Friend
A surname that was often a nickname for a kind, trusted, or companionable person.
The #2,041 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,508 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname comes from the common English word friend, ultimately from Old English "frēond," meaning a friend, ally, or loved one. As a surname, it was probably first given as a personal nickname to someone known for friendliness or loyalty. In some cases, it may also have been used more broadly for a companion or associate.
History
Lower explicitly treats Friend as probably characteristic of the original bearer, which fits a nickname surname. The name is well established in England and later appears in North America, where it remains modestly common. Related forms such as Frend occur in historical records, reflecting older spelling variation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname can appear with the French-looking article in records, as in "Le Frend," which shows how spellings were still fluid in medieval and early modern documents.
From the historical record
“in the H.R. in its modern orthography. FRIEND. FREND. Probably charac- teristic of the original bearer. Le Frend. H.R. FRIENDSHIP. This Devonshire name is probabl}' local, the termination being a corruption of Iwpe. FRIER. 1. See Fryer. 2. "Many friars at the Reformation renounced their vows of chastity, married…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom