Surname Ffraser - Meaning and Origin
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Ffraser: What does the surname Ffraser mean?
The last name Ffraser is of Scottish origin, and comes from the Scottish Gaelic phrase “MacShuibhne Frisealach” which means “son of the Fraser”. Fraser is derived from the French word “Fraisse” which means “strawberry”, referring to the area of Scotland that the Ffrsers come from that was known for its abundance of wild strawberries. The first recorded spelling of the name was found in 1225 in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Throughout history, the Ffrsers were a prominent and influential Scottish clan. They were compared to the royal Campbells due to the bravery of their Clan Chief and his success in various military battles. They also gained fame for their role in the Jacobite rising in 1745, where they declared allegiance to the House of Stuart.
Ffrsers are well known for their craftsmanship and, as such, were integral to Scotland’s shipbuilding industry in the 19th century. Many of the great clippers that made Scotland’s name famous around the world were built by Ffrsers.
Today, Ffrsers can be found around the world, having dispersed to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Those that have kept their Scottish surname remain proud of their heritage and continue to honor and uphold the values of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisFfraser: Where does the name Ffraser come from?
The last name Ffraser is commonly found throughout Scotland, in the British Isles, as well as some parts of Canada and the United States. The spelling varies slightly in different geographical regions, as well as between each country.
The first record of the name Ffraser dates back to the 10th century, when it was used to describe a family who lived in the village of Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is thought that this family’s surname was derived from either the Gaelic word “fear-shir” meaning “strawberry” or the Gaelic word “fforres”, meaning “woodland”. Over the centuries, people carrying the name Ffraser spread to other parts of Scotland.
During the Highland Clearances of the 1700s and 1800s, many Ffraser families left their homes in Scotland and moved to other countries in pursuit of new opportunities. As a result of this migration, the name is now common in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
More recently, the popularity of the television show Outlander has raised awareness of the Ffraser name throughout the world, as it has become the name of both the leading characters’ family and the fictional Scottish town in which they live. As of 2011, records suggest that around 5,000 people bearing the surname Ffraser lived in Scotland, 3,000 in the United States, 1,000 in Canada, and 500 in Australia.
Variations of the surname Ffraser
The surname Ffraser is an anglicised spelling of the Scottish name Fraser, which is also occasionally spelled Frazer. Below is a list of other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, as well as the most common alternative derivatives:
- Frazier
- Fraizer
- Frazer
- Frasier
- Frasor
- Fraiser
- Frazer
- Frasor
- Christeson
- Christenson
- Adamson
- Adamsen
- Adamsson
- Adamsen
- Fraser-Harris
- Fraser-Harrison
- Fraser-Hill
- Frazer-Harris
- Frazer-Harrison
- Frazer-Hill
The list could go on with many more variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as the surname Ffraser. Its root, Fraser, is a Scottish surname that has been passed down through many generations of Scots. Originally, the name was derived from the French 'de Frisselle', meaning ‘from France’, which may refer to some of the earliest settlers of Scotland from what is now France. The Frazers, as with other Scottish surnames, experienced a series of anglicization processes, resulting in the many variations of the name we know today. The variants are still primarily linked to Scotland and some of them are even found primarily there.
Famous people with the name Ffraser
- Sarah Fraser-Mole: an English writer and educator from Shropshire.
- Brendan Fraser: an American-Canadian actor, best known for his role as Rick in the film series The Mummy.
- Suzi Fraser: an American television actress, best known for her appearance in the television series The Wonder Years.
- Bruce Fraser: a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, and Hartford Whalers.
- David Ffraser: a New Zealand composer, arranger, and conductor, best known for writing the theme tune for the science fiction television program Blake's 7.
- Jill Ffraser: a Canadian historian and author, who worked at the University of Saskatchewan.
- James Ffraser: an Australian actor, best known for his role as Edward Charmley in the television series SeaChange.
- Melody Ffraser: a British soul singer and vocalist, best known for her hits ‘Falling’ and ‘Always’.
- Edmund Ffraser: an American doctor and scholar, known for his work on infectious diseases and public health.
- Storm Ffraser: an Australian poet, known for his works ‘The House of Memories’ and ‘Whispers in the Dark’.