Surname Frith - Meaning and Origin

Frith: What does the surname Frith mean?

The surname Frith is of Old English origin, derived from the word "frith" which meant "woodland" or "forest" in Old English. It is believed to have been originally used as a topographical name for someone who resided near or within a forest. Some spellings variations of Frith include Fryth, Firth, Friths, and others. However, in some contexts, particularly in Northern England and Scotland, it could also have been derived from the Old Norse word "firth," meaning a fjord or estuary, again denoting a topographical feature. It is an ornamental name illustrating the person's geographical location or occupational name signifying a forest worker. Thus the surname Frith, like many surnames, started out as a way to distinguish people by their association with a certain location or profession. Over time these location-based or job-based names became inherited, passed down through generations, and solidified as family names.

Frith: Where does the name Frith come from?

The Frith surname is most commonly found in England. According to the website Forebears, Frith is the 5982nd most common surname in the country. It is thought to be an old English word derived from 'Frige' which means peace or protection, and was likely used as a personal name prior to becoming a surname.

The Frith name is also found in other areas of the UK such as Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland – although it is not as common in these countries. It is believed to have traveled to the United States in the late 18th century and is now commonly found in many different states.

Elsewhere around the world, the Frith surname is also common in Germany, France, The Netherlands, Canada and South Africa. In Australia, the Frith name is also fairly common in New South Wales and Victoria. It is also present in New Zealand and some parts of South America, such as Brazil.

So, it can be seen that the Frith surname is quite common in many parts of the world today.

Variations of the surname Frith

The surname Frith can be found across many countries of the world, with slight differences in spelling or pronunciation depending on the region. In England and Scotland, it is most commonly found as “Frith” or “Friths”, while in Ireland it is often spelled “Frye”. The surname can also be found as “Freit” in Germany and as “Freed” in the United States. It is sometimes also seen as “Freeth” or “Freet” in some areas.

There are a number of additional surnames with the same origin or variations, such as “Fry”, “Fryer”, “Frigg”, “Frieth”, “Freeth”, “Fryton”, “Fryerdy”, “Frid”, and “Freid”. All of these spellings are derived from the Old English “frið”, meaning “peace” or “protection”. The Frith variant is particularly popular as a given name for girls, while the Frye spelling is used more often for boys.

There are also variations of the original Frith name, such as the French “Fry” or the Dutch “Frits”. Similarly, in Spain, the Frith surname can sometimes be seen spelled as “Frit”, “Frito”, or “Fretto”. As the surname is so widely spread, it is likely that a wide variety of additional variants and spellings exist in other countries and regions of the world.

Famous people with the name Frith

• George Frith: British comedian and television presenter.
• Hilda Frith: British author most famous for "The Bombay Quartet" series of novels.
• Bill Frith: British professional ice hockey goalkeeper.
• Michael Frith: American television producer, illustrator, and puppeteer who worked on Sesame Street.
• J.G. Frith: British author and musician famous for his work as a scenery artist.
• Stuart Frith: British actor, writer, and director.
• Reggie Frith: Jamaican singer and musician known for his work with the Jazz Jamaica All Stars.
• Naicky Frith: British professional boxer who was British super featherweight champion from 2008 to 2011.
• Chris Frith: British scientist and neuropsychologist known for his research into mental illness and language disorders.
• William Frith: English painter famous for his works on the history and culture of 19th century England.

Other surnames

FritsFritschFritscheFritschelFritschenFritscherFritschesFritschiFritschkeFritschkenFritschleFritschlerFritschmannFritschnerFritschyFrittsFritzFritzeFritzekötterFritzelFritzemeierFritzemeyerFritzenFritzenkötterFritzensmeierFritzerFritzgesFritzhannsFritzingerFritzius