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Origin / History of the Fryer Name

There are two possible sources of this interesting and unusual name, the first being that it is a nickname for a pious person, or an occupational name for someone employed in a monastery.  Originating from the Middle English, Old French 'frere', Latin 'frater', brother, meaning a friar or a monk.  However, Freer is also a Flemish cognate of the personal name Frederick, which was introduced into England by the Normans after 1066, and is composed of the elements 'fred', peace and 'ric', power.  The name Frederick was borne by a canonized 9^th Century bishop, and was a hereditary name among the Hohenstaufen ruling family, hence its popularity in Central Europe.  Amongst early church recordings is that of Alexander Fryer who married Alice Holdon in London 1548, whilst in 1583 an Ann Fryer was christened in Stepney.  The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert (le) Frere, which was dated 1196-1197, in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire.

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