What is the origin of the surname Fry?

Answer 1

The surname Fry is English in origin, found chiefly in south and southwest England. It was previously thought to have two possible origins as follows:

It is a variation of Free, taken from the Old English frig.

It is also a nickname for a small person, taken from the Middle English fry, meaning a small person, a child, or offspring. It is this meaning that our word for newly hatched fish comes from, as well as the phrase "small fry" used by larger children to describe smaller children.

Now there is a third more likely possible origin that that actually encompasses the previously mentioned two. The name Fry is likely to have came from the Northern European god Freyr. Freyr was a fertility god and is the origin of several English words to do with new life. For example frog and fry (newly hatched fish). The nickname for child was also fry and there is an association with offspring and small.

The anglicised versions of Freyr are Frey, Frye or Fry. Some historians regard Freyr or Frye as a title and not actually the name of the god. In this case the name would have been associated with nobility which might explain the meaning of free as opposed to being a serf or a slave. The old English word for free is indeed Frye or Fry.

There are many names all over Northern Europe that come from Freyr. Here are some examples but there are more: Vrie, Le Vrie, Le Frey, Le Frye, Lefrey, Frey, Frie, Frye and Fry.

Answer 2

The mighty Anglo-Saxons who once ruled all of Britain gave rise to the proud and noble English nickname-type surname of Fry. It was originally bestowed upon a person who was called "the fry", meaning "free". Some researchers refer to the Middle English-language word "fry", meaning "small person" or "child". Earliest records are to be found in Wiltshire, where they held a family seat from very early times.