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Fraser Family History

Fraser Surname Meaning

Scottish: apparently a nickname from Anglo-Norman French fraser(e) fresere ‘strawberry plant’. Fresel and Frisel from Anglo-Norman French fresel ‘strawberry’ are early variants of the Fraser surname the modern Gaelicized form of which is Friseal. See Frizzell.

The crest on the Scottish family's coat of arms takes the form of a strawberry plant but its antiquity is unknown. Claims of a habitational derivation in particular from a place called la Frézelière in Anjou (France) are attractive but they lack verifiable evidence.

Americanized form of one or more similar (like-sounding) Jewish surnames.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Fraser family from?

You can see how Fraser families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fraser family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fraser families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 1,484 Fraser families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Fraser's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fraser families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fraser surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Fraser 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 Fraser. 6% of Fraser men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Fraser women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fraser were Police Constable and Housewife.

View Census Data for Fraser | 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
    6%
  • Medical Practitioner
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Police Constable
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Fraser family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 648,000 census records available for the last name Fraser. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fraser census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fraser

Passenger Lists

There are 145,000 immigration records available for the last name Fraser. 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 Fraser immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 71,000 military records available for the last name Fraser. For the veterans among your Fraser ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fraser military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fraser family history

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What is the average Fraser lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Fraser life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Fraser in 1944 was 22, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fraser

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fraser 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.

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