Frisbie
An old surname of uncertain origin, probably a spelling variant of Frisby or another English place-based name.
The #8,506 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 79,738 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Frisbie is best treated as a spelling variant of Frisby, a name often linked to English place-names ending in -by, which came into English from Old Norse and meant a farm or settlement. The first element is usually explained as a personal name or local reference, but the exact source of this spelling is not certain from the historical excerpts provided. In practice, Frisbie appears to be an Americanized or variant spelling rather than a separate, clearly independent surname.
History
The name is found in English-speaking records and later in the United States in several spelling forms, including Frisbie and Frisby. The excerpts provided do not include a full etymological entry, only incidental mentions, so the historical explanation here is necessarily cautious. In modern American usage, Frisbie is a comparatively uncommon surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because the name is often linked with Frisby, it ultimately connects to the common English place-name ending -by, seen in many names of Norse origin.
From the historical record
“"pieces") Flower, Flucker (we have Fluker,) FooRD, Footman, Foreland, Forrow, Forst, Fowers, Frankson and Franksen, Frary, Freeborn, Frisbie, Frizwell, Fudger. Gaboriel, Galpin, Gamberteau or Gamberto, Gambling, Gandell, Gansley, Gard, Garesche, Garraux, Gatchell, Gatcomb, Gatliffe, Gaudel,”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)