Origin of the surname Defrain

Recorded in several spelling forms including Defraine, Frain, Frayn, Frayne, Freyn, Frean and Frame, this is English surname but of French origins. It is topographical for someone who lived near a prominent ash tree, possibly one used as a parish boundary marker or even a meeting place of the local community. The derivation is from the pre 9th century Old French words "fraisne or fresne", meaning the ash (tree), themsleves from the Roman (Latin) word "fraxinus". As the surname is widely recorded, it is possible that the word was introduced into England even before the famous Conquest of 1066.

What is certain is that topographical surnames were amongst the earliest to be created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. In this case early examples of the surname development since the 12th century include: Thomas del Freisne of Herefordshire in 1206, Peter de Frane of London in 1228, Richard del Frene of Staffordshire in 1271, Cristina Freen of Worcestershire in 1275 and John del Freyn of the county of Somerset in the year 1280. Amongst the later recordings are those of Robertus Frayn in the Poll Tax Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, and the marriage of Elizabeth Defraine and Thomas Jeroms on March 8th 1761 at St. James church, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of William de Fraisn. This was dated 1156, in the "Pipe Rolls" of the county of Suffolk", during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, 1154 - 1189.

The surname Defrain. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname defrain is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname defrain, and in addition to the original locations of defrain, we can find out where people with the surname defrain can currently be found.

The surname Defrain around the world

The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname defrain provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname defrain has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Defrain

For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname defrain, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of defrain developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname defrain are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about defrain and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname defrain or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of defrain.

Notable Figures Named Defrain

Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname defrain were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like defrain can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname defrain who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Defrain and its bibliographic sources

The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of defrain are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname defrain, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of defrain, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Defrain