Surname Froats - Meaning and Origin
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Froats: What does the surname Froats mean?
The surname Froats is an uncommon English surname originating in the north of England. The origin of the name is from the words "froat" or "froager," which denoted someone who was a frog catcher or dealer. It is believed that the surname could also be derived from the Old French word "froa," which means loud-talking or chattering.
The earliest records of the Froats family date back to 1273, when a Geoffrey Froat was recorded in the ancient Yorkshire rolls. After this, the name is recorded sporadically until the late 16th century.
Today, the surname Froats is mainly found in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire, in England’s northern region. The name may have been born there or may have been brought to the area by migration.
Outside of the United Kingdom, many families bearing the surname Froats are found in the United States. The first record of one bearing this name is of a Samuel Froat, who arrived in Virginia in 1638. In 2012, this surname was the 12,040th most popular surname in the United States.
Overall, the surname Froats is a unique and quite unusual name, with its origins likely being from early French settlers in England’s northern region. The name has since spread throughout the country and has now even followed many of its families to the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisFroats: Where does the name Froats come from?
The last name Froats is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is a relatively uncommon surname in other parts of the world.
The surname is of English origin, and it most likely originated from the Old English word ‘fro ‘, meaning ‘frost’. As a given name, it has also been found in parts of the United States and Canada, with many families tracing their ancestry to the British Isles.
In the UK, it is most commonly found around Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Kent. It is also common in parts of Ireland, mainly in County Sligo and Clare.
In the United States, the surname is widely distributed, especially in the Midwest, in states such as Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. It can also be found in parts of New York State, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
In Canada, the surname is most common in British Columbia and Ontario, though it can be found British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Alberta.
The last name appears in English records from the 1500s, with most occurrences being in parish records from the counties named above.
The population of Froats in the UK is estimated to be around 6,000, and the population of Froats in the US is estimated to be around 800.
Variations of the surname Froats
The surname Froats can be spelled a few different ways, including Froats, Frohats, Frouds, Froods, or Frowth. All of these spelling variations are derived from the same origin, which is a patronymic name derived from the English nickname “Fro,” meaning “frolicsome, joyful.” The Froats variation is likely the most common spelling of this name, while the other variations help to illustrate the regional variations in name spellings in the medieval period.
In addition to these alternate spellings, the name Froats can carry several surnames of the same origin. The most common surnames of this origin include Froats, Frohats, Frouds, Froods, Frows, Frowsts, and Froes. These surname variations reflect the various distinct spellings of the patronymic name, as well as other phonetic spellings.
Overall, all of these spelling variations and related surnames stem from the same origin, which is the English nickname “Fro” meaning “frolicsome, joyful.” These spellings are a reminder of the various regional variations in name spellings in the medieval period and of the different spellings of the same family name.
Famous people with the name Froats
- Maurice Froats: Canadian lawyer and former politician
- Frances Froats: local theatre actress
- Steve Froats: politician and Former Member of Congress
- Robert Froats: actor and playwright
- Mayola Froats: jazz singer and songwriter
- Mitchell Froats: restaurateur and former judge
- Sandy Froats: former NHL hockey player
- Andrew Froats: professional baseball player
- Eleanor Froats: composer and pianist
- Alex Froats: professional soccer player
- Katie Froats: philanthropist
- Glenn Froats: former mayor of Edgewood
- Luke Froats: Olympic silver medalist in track and field
- Hines Froats: actor and winner of the Genie Award
- Hilda Froats: former head of the Accounting Association of Canada
- Latonya Froats: retired professional tennis player
- Fred Froats: professional golfer
- Phil Froats: acclaimed film and television producer
- Dan Froats: singer and music producer
- William Froats: award-winning investigative journalist