Fry
A surname from Old English meaning “free” or “noble,” sometimes also appearing as a nickname for a free man.
The #909 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 8,119 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally explained from Old English fry, meaning “free,” and by extension “noble” or “of free status.” Early records also show forms such as le Frye and le Frie, which fit the same sense as surnames like Free and Freeman. In some cases it may have begun as a nickname for someone notable for a free or independent disposition rather than strictly for legal status.
History
Medieval records show the name in England quite early, and historical surname writers treated it as a common English nickname surname. The form may have had more than one starting point, since some instances could reflect the sense “free” while others may be shortened or altered spellings of related names. The surname has remained established in England and later spread widely to other English-speaking countries.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Nineteenth-century surname writers specifically noted the phrase “the child that was so fry” as an old usage illustrating the word’s meaning.
From the historical record
“1166. Lib. Nig. Scac. FRY. Old English for/ree ; in the H.R. Le Frj'e and Le Frie ; the same as Free and Freeman, which see. Also with regard to disposition — free, noble. " The child that was so fry." Rembrun, quoted by IlalUiocll. FRYER. A-:N'orm. Brother. Kelham. FUBBS. A corruption of Forbes ?”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Fry
- Stephen Fry (b. 1957)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.