This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Fry family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Fry Family History

Fry Surname Meaning

English (mainly southern and southwestern): from Middle English frie ‘free’ (Old English frīo frīg) with reference either to rank or tenurial status (‘free-born’) or to character (‘generous open-handed’).

It is synonymous with Free.

Americanized form of German Frei or Frey or of the Dutch cognate Vrij.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Fry family from?

You can see how Fry families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fry family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fry families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,623 Fry families living in London. This was about 17% of all the recorded Fry's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fry families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fry surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Fry ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fry. 8% of Fry men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Fry women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fry were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Fry | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Gardener
    4%
  • Farmer
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Fry family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 470,000 census records available for the last name Fry. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fry census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fry

Passenger Lists

There are 31,000 immigration records available for the last name Fry. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Fry immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 60,000 military records available for the last name Fry. For the veterans among your Fry ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fry military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fry family history

Discover More

What is the average Fry lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Fry life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Fry in 1941 was 37, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fry

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fry ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fry family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial