Show ContentsFroude History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Froude family

The surname Froude was first found in Devon, where Richard and Siward Frode were listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1184. 1

The Domesday Book has an entry for Frodo liber homo, who was living at Bury St. Edmunds, and whose son is documented as Gilbert filius Frodonis or Fit-Froude. 2

Hugh filius Frodonis was also listed at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk 1121-1148. William Froud was listed in Cheshire c. 1203 and later William le Frode was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Kent in 1334. 1

Early History of the Froude family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Froude research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1184, 1187, 1203, 1334, 1525, 1664, 1665, 1667, 1678, 1688, 1718, 1719, 1738, 1772, 1776, 1778, 1779 and 1835 are included under the topic Early Froude History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Froude Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Froud, Froude, Frowd, Frowde, Frude, Frood and others.

Early Notables of the Froude family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir Phillip Froude, who is mentioned in the House of Commons Journal of February, 1667 as being "intrusted with the Management of the Post Office."

Froude Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Froude is the 606th most popular surname with an estimated 75 people with that name. 3


Froude migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Froude Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Froude, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th September 1858 4
  • Miss Margaret Froude, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th September 1858 4
  • D. Froude, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tamar" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th January 1858 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Froude (post 1700) +

  • William Froude (1810-1879), British engineer and naval architect, fourth son of the Venerable Robert Hurrell Froude, Archdeacon of Totnes and rector of Dartington and Denbury in Devonshire; eponym of the Froude number 6
  • James Anthony Froude (1818-1894), English historian, novelist, biographer, and editor of Fraser's Magazine from Dartington Rectory, Devon
  • Richard Hurrell Froude (1803-1836), English divine, son of Robert Hurrell Froude, afterwards Archdeacon of Totnes
  • Frederick Ernest "Fred" Froude (1910-1978), Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood (1930-1939)
  • Derek Owen Froude (b. 1959), New Zealand Olympic long-distance runner at the 1984 and 1992 games
  • Christine Ann Froude (b. 1947), British retired Anglican priest, Archdeacon of Malmesbury from 2011 and Acting Archdeacon of Bristol, 2013–2018


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


Houseofnames.com on Facebook