Fryar

The surname “Fryar” has its earliest origins in medieval England, first appearing in the 14th century. The name was also found in Lothian where they were seated from early recorded times and their first records appear on the census rolls taken by the early Kings to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. The name was given to a person who was a friar. The surname Fryar was derived from the old French word "frère", which means "brother" in English and dates from the 13th century. The French word "frère" in turn comes from the Latin word "frater", which also means "brother". One reason for the variation in spelling is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. Names were rarely spelled consistently during these times when most people were illiterate. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to specific rules and consequently, the variant surname Fryar first appeared.