Fraser is used as a family name or surname in Ireland, Scotland. It is 6 characters long in length.

Family Name / Last Name: Fraser
No. of characters: 6
Origin: Ireland, Scotland
Meaning:

Surname Fraser is a form of Frisell. Probably a native of Friesland.

The variant form of Frizzell. Early form of Frazier meaning "one who came from Friesland".

Variant form of the Frazier. One who came from Friesland, the Frisian.

One who came from Friesland, the Frisian.

Fraser, Fresar, Frisel, Frisele, Freshele, de Fraser and de Frisle, are seven different ways in which this name is written in "Ragman Roll" (AD 1292-1297) by seventeen of the family; one of them being Chancellor of the Kingdom, and another Grand Chamberlain and brother-in-law of King Robert Bruce.

This surname is generally said to be of Norman origin; but is more probably Celtic, and a corruption of Frith siol, Forest tribe or race. In Gaelic, the family are called "na Friosalaich," the Frasers, or "Clann Friosal."

Those who claim for them a Norman descent say that the name was derived from the "fraises" or strawberry-leaves in their Arms, and that they were identical with the French Frezels ; but, in my opinion, the latter is an entirely different name. I believe, moreover, that the Scotch name is far older than the Arms; and that when the latter were adopted, or perhaps granted, canting Arms were taken, and the pun made in the court language of the times.

Gilbert de Fraser, living temp. Alex I. (1107-1124), is the first who is to be found in charters. He possessed large estates in Tweeddale and Lothian, and was ancestor of Simon Fraser, who married Margaret, daghter of John, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, and d. 1333. He was the immediate ancestor of the family of Lovat, which, as well as the Clan Fraser, are styled in the Highlands Mac Shimi, from him, their first chief. His descendant, Thomas Fraser, Lord Lovat, d. 1699, leaving two sons; viz.,

(1) Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, Chief of the Clan Fraser, and Lord-Lieutenant of the county Inverness, attainted for high treason in 1747;
(2) John Fraser, who was born at Tanich, Urray, county Ross, circa 1674. He was an active Jacobite, and therefore generally lived under an assumed name in Great Britain; being sometimes known as Mac Omas, - such being his patronymic, - and sometimes as John Dubh or Dhu. In France, however, he was styled the Chevalier Frases de Lovat.

"Of the Norman origin of the Frasers it is impossible for a moment to entertain any doubt." Skene's Highlanders, ii, 311. Down to the reign of Robert Bruce they appear to have remained in the southern counties of Scotland, though afterwards they removed to the North, and assumed the dignity of a clan. The advocates of their Celtic origin derive the name from Frith-siol, "forest race." In the Ragman Roll it is spelt Fresar, Frizel, Freshele, Frisele, and Frisle. Friselí occurs in the so-called Battel Roll, and an ancient fief near Neufchâtel, in Normandy, was called Fresles.

A perpetuity of Frasers is promised to Philorth (the estate of Fraser, Lord Saltoun), by the following rhyme:-
"As lang as there's a cock in the North,
There'll be a Fraser in Philorth."
Chambers' Popular Rhymes of Scotland.

The following anecdote is given by Mr. :-
An Irish gentleman once told me that in his youth the Fraser Fencibles were quartered near his father's residence, and that he had many times heard the roll called. It cominenced Donald Fraser, senior; Donald Fraser, junior; Donald Fraser, Baine (White); Donald Fraser, Ruadh (Red); Donald Fraser, Buidhe (Yellow-haired); Donald Fraser, Dubh (Black); Donald Fraser, No. 1; Donald Fraser, No. 2; and so on to Donald Fraser, No. 18., before a new baptismal name appeared."

How popular is Fraser?

Fraser is common in United States, Canada, Australia, England, Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Wales, Northern Ireland, France, Suriname, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Argentina, Thailand, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Bahamas, Swaziland, Spain, Singapore, Fiji, Egypt, British Virgin Islands, Chile.

Fraser is ranked 3357 on our list.

Despite the fact that the number of Fraser bearers increased by 5.46 per cent in 2010 US census to 25961 since 2000, the surname slipped by 46 spots and ranked at 1358. The last name was found in around 9 per hundred thousand population. Please refer to following table for race and ethnicity.

Race 2010 2000
White 78.47 81.93
Black 15.47 13
Hispanic or Latino 2.62 1.88
Others 1.96 1.73
Asian and Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islander		 0.89 0.82
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59 0.63
Fraser is quite popular family name mostly used in United States however Guyana lie ahead in terms of density. Around 167002 people have been found who wears Fraser as their family name. Fraser is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below:
RankCountryCount
Countries with ten thousands of Fraser:
1,178 United States37,217
65 Canada34,669
101 Australia25,709
346 England21,052
22 Scotland19,314
Countries with thousands of Fraser:
1,195 South Africa5,674
76 New Zealand4,634
13 Guyana3,370
161 Jamaica3,290
108 Trinidad and Tobago1,702
Countries with hundreds of Fraser:
5,900 Bangladesh991
3,118 Sri Lanka877
392 Wales866
673 Northern Ireland541
21,313 France479
101 Suriname447
10,708 Saudi Arabia437
1,399 Ireland429
10,907 Argentina332
36,979 Thailand321
61 Grenada313
91 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines268
11,478 Netherlands251
9,478 Zimbabwe245
9,384 Malawi235
322 Bahamas177
424 Swaziland177
18,543 Spain150
1,485 Singapore137
1,425 Fiji126
38,342 Egypt122
61 British Virgin Islands109
5,476 Chile107
Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100:
59,076 Germany100
67,705 Brazil99
168,289 India96
7,350 Venezuela91
8,121 Sweden87
5,063 Dominican Republic85
10,422 Switzerland85
18,683 Malaysia84
161 Saint Kitts and Nevis72
10,434 Norway69
276 United States Virgin Islands66
246 Aruba60
28,778 Japan59
9,368 Denmark57
313 Antigua and Barbuda53
Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50:
215 Bermuda48
632 Barbados47
8,706 Portugal47
3,543 Panama44
126,392 Philippines44
19,367 Israel43
396 Jersey42
418 Isle of Man40
400 Guernsey37
36,992 Papua New Guinea30
3,050 Hong Kong29
13,263 Botswana28
91,195 Italy28
17,121 Finland27
15,017 Iraq26
158,601 Nigeria26
237,148 Russia26
406 Sierra Leone25
342 Cayman Islands24
48,667 Belgium23
912 Saint Lucia22
3,723 China20
420 Gibraltar19
32,927 Mexico19
5,768 Cyprus15
16,126 Ecuador13
19,471 Estonia12
Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 6 - 10:
67,454 Austria10
84,839 Greece10
434,432 Indonesia10
36,116 United Arab Emirates10
4,903 Angola9
5,469 Bahrain9
2,328 Belize9
85,740 Czechia9
23,279 Liberia9
2,946 Mozambique9
30,726 Qatar9
5,799 Sudan9
130,497 Turkey9
1,431 American Samoa8
2,851 Vietnam8
1,243 South Korea7
23,614 Colombia6
5,462 Costa Rica6
36,458 Peru6
Show Full Last Name Distribution

Immigrants to US

From Ireland

John Fraser worked as workman and hailed from Great Britain. During the great famine, 22 years old embarked for USA from Liverpool on Broom and arrived on June 1, 1846. Donald Fraser (60) Workman, U Fraser (60) , 30 years old Ann Fraser, Agnes Fraser, aged 26, Catherine Fraser (20) Workwoman, 70 years old Jane Fraser, Margaret Fraser, aged 20, Duncan Fraser, and 71 other Fraser around 46.34% of whom were workman while others worked as merchant and farmer, mechanic migrated to US.

From Germany

23 years old carpenter Ludwig Fraser who was residing in Hanover migrated to New York on October 6, 1867 by Cella put out from Havre & London. Andrew Fraser, aged 5, Elizabeth Fraser, 33 years old Sarah Fraser, Georg Fraser, 30 years old Joseph Fraser, 23 years old Augusta Fraser, Caroline Fraser (28), 1 years old Johan Fraser, Marie Fraser, aged 20, Wilhelm Fraser, aged 28, Johanes Fraser (30) Laborer, and 6 other Fraser around 33.33% of whom were farmer while others worked as merchant migrated to US from Havre & London, Bremen and Liverpool.

Fraser Namesakes

  • Malcolm Fraser, Australian politician
  • Alexander Campbell Fraser, Scottish philosopher
  • Sylvia Fraser, Canadian novelist, journalist and travel writer
  • Peter Fraser, New Zealand politician
  • Louis Fraser, British zoologist and collector
  • George Sutherland Fraser, Scottish poet, literary critic and academic
  • James O. Fraser, British Protestant Christian missionary to China with the China Inland Mission
  • Brad Fraser, Canadian playwright
  • Douglas Fraser, Scottish-American union leader
  • Marion Fraser, Scottish music educator
  • James Baillie Fraser, Scottish travel writer and artist
  • Donna Fraser, former English athlete
  • Isaac Fraser, political figure in Upper Canada
  • Steve Fraser, American Olympic Gold Medalist athlete wrestler and coach
  • Drew Fraser, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Law at Macquarie University
  • Jill Fraser, British theatre owner and director
  • Richard Duncan Fraser, fur trader, businessman
  • Laura Gardin Fraser, American sculptor and the wife of sculptor James Earle Fraser
  • Claire M. Fraser, American microbiologist
  • Toa Fraser, New Zealand born of Fijian heritage playwright and film director
  • Thomas E. Fraser, officer in the United States Navy
  • Francis Richard Fraser, was
  • Erroll Fraser, ice speed skater from the British Virgin Islands,
  • Pamela Fraser, American artist and writer
  • Harvey Fraser, professional ice hockey player
  • Shona Fraser, music journalist
  • Evan Eugene Fraser, Ontario contractor and political figure
  • Nancy Fraser, American critical theorist, feminist
  • Julius Thomas Fraser, founding member of the International Society for the Study of Time
  • Giles Fraser, English Anglican priest
  • Antonia Fraser, British author of history, novels
  • Raymond Fraser, Canadian biographer, editor, essayist, memoirist
  • Dawn Fraser, Australian freestyle champion swimmer and former politician
  • Brendan Fraser, Canadian-American actor
  • George MacDonald Fraser, Scottish author who wrote historical novels
  • Elizabeth Fraser, Scottish singer, songwriter and musician
  • Sheila Fraser, served as Auditor General of Canada
  • Christopher Fraser, former British Conservative Party politician
  • John Allen Fraser, Canadian retired parliamentarian and former Speaker of the House of Commons
  • John James Fraser, New Brunswick lawyer, judge, and politician
  • Ian Edward Fraser, English diving pioneer and recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Laura Fraser, Scottish actress
  • Angus Fraser, MBE is currently Middlesex County Cricket Club's managing director of cricket
  • Robin Fraser, American soccer coach and former player
  • Charles Craufurd Fraser, British recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Donald M. Fraser, American politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Tomiko Fraser, American fashion model and actress
  • Brooke Fraser, New Zealand singer and songwriter best
  • Kerry Fraser, hockey analyst
  • Liz Fraser, English actress, best
  • Jimmy Fraser, Australian retired football player
  • Joan Fraser, Canadian former Senator and former journalist
  • Elisabeth Fraser, American television, film and stage actress

Fraser Namesakes

  • Malcolm Fraser, Australian politician
  • Alexander Campbell Fraser, Scottish philosopher
  • Sylvia Fraser, Canadian novelist, journalist and travel writer
  • Peter Fraser, New Zealand politician
  • Louis Fraser, British zoologist and collector
  • George Sutherland Fraser, Scottish poet, literary critic and academic
  • James O. Fraser, British Protestant Christian missionary to China with the China Inland Mission
  • Brad Fraser, Canadian playwright
  • Douglas Fraser, Scottish-American union leader
  • Marion Fraser, Scottish music educator
  • James Baillie Fraser, Scottish travel writer and artist
  • Donna Fraser, former English athlete
  • Isaac Fraser, political figure in Upper Canada
  • Steve Fraser, American Olympic Gold Medalist athlete wrestler and coach
  • Drew Fraser, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Law at Macquarie University
  • Jill Fraser, British theatre owner and director
  • Richard Duncan Fraser, fur trader, businessman
  • Laura Gardin Fraser, American sculptor and the wife of sculptor James Earle Fraser
  • Claire M. Fraser, American microbiologist
  • Toa Fraser, New Zealand born of Fijian heritage playwright and film director
  • Thomas E. Fraser, officer in the United States Navy
  • Francis Richard Fraser, was
  • Erroll Fraser, ice speed skater from the British Virgin Islands,
  • Pamela Fraser, American artist and writer
  • Harvey Fraser, professional ice hockey player
  • Shona Fraser, music journalist
  • Evan Eugene Fraser, Ontario contractor and political figure
  • Nancy Fraser, American critical theorist, feminist
  • Julius Thomas Fraser, founding member of the International Society for the Study of Time
  • Giles Fraser, English Anglican priest
  • Antonia Fraser, British author of history, novels
  • Raymond Fraser, Canadian biographer, editor, essayist, memoirist
  • Dawn Fraser, Australian freestyle champion swimmer and former politician
  • Brendan Fraser, Canadian-American actor
  • George MacDonald Fraser, Scottish author who wrote historical novels
  • Elizabeth Fraser, Scottish singer, songwriter and musician
  • Sheila Fraser, served as Auditor General of Canada
  • Christopher Fraser, former British Conservative Party politician
  • John Allen Fraser, Canadian retired parliamentarian and former Speaker of the House of Commons
  • John James Fraser, New Brunswick lawyer, judge, and politician
  • Ian Edward Fraser, English diving pioneer and recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Laura Fraser, Scottish actress
  • Angus Fraser, MBE is currently Middlesex County Cricket Club's managing director of cricket
  • Robin Fraser, American soccer coach and former player
  • Charles Craufurd Fraser, British recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Donald M. Fraser, American politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Tomiko Fraser, American fashion model and actress
  • Brooke Fraser, New Zealand singer and songwriter best
  • Kerry Fraser, hockey analyst
  • Liz Fraser, English actress, best
  • Jimmy Fraser, Australian retired football player
  • Joan Fraser, Canadian former Senator and former journalist
  • Elisabeth Fraser, American television, film and stage actress

Related Family Names: