Frye
A surname with English roots that may be a nickname from “free” or, in some cases, a variant of Fry.
The #937 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,351 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Frye is generally treated as a variant of Fry, and the name is often linked to the Middle English word for “free,” from Old English freo. In that sense it began as a nickname or status name for someone who was freeborn or not a serf. Some historical records also show le Frye / le Frie forms, supporting this interpretation, though the surname may overlap with other Fry names in usage.
History
Medieval English records place Frye in several counties by the 13th and 14th centuries, especially in Wiltshire and nearby areas. Later the spelling Frye became established alongside Fry, particularly in England and then in North America. Because the surname could arise in more than one way, different family lines bearing Frye may not share a single origin.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname collections note that Fry/Frye could function as a nickname meaning “free,” which makes it one of those surnames whose meaning points to legal status rather than a job or place.
From the historical record
“called, possessed the right name. Thorn.! le Frye, co. WiHa, riTJ. A. CroHrey 1.^ Fryc, co. Wilts, itnd. Thomu If Frie. C R., 14 Bdn'. I.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances