Explore the Family Name Fretwell
The meaning of Fretwell
1. English (of Norman origin): variant of the Norman surname de Frescheville, from an unidentified place in France named Frècheville. The English surname Freshfield is also derived from this placename. The surname Fretwell is attested in Derbyshire from the 13th century. Alternative possibilities include minor placenames in the Midlands or north of England, such as Fretwell Close in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, or the lost Frethewell in Morton, Nottinghamshire, but there is currently no evidence to support these origins. 2. English: habitational name from Fritwell, Oxfordshire, which is possibly derived from Old English freht, fyrht, firht ‘augury,’ and w(i)elle ‘well’, meaning ‘wishing well’. This name is recorded as Fretewell in 1203, and Fritewell in 1236.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fretwell in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Fretwell has seen slight fluctuations in popularity over a decade. In 2000, the surname ranked 13,806 in popularity but declined to 14,238 by 2010, indicating a decrease of 3.13%. However, the count of people bearing the surname Fretwell increased modestly from 2,010 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2010, a growth of 4.78%. The proportion per 100k people also decreased by 5.33%, moving from 0.75 in 2000 to 0.71 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,806 | #14,238 | -3.13% |
| Count | 2,010 | 2,106 | 4.78% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.75 | 0.71 | -5.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fretwell
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Fretwell, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. Those identifying as White represented the majority with 90.4% in 2000, decreasing slightly to 87.56% in 2010. The Hispanic population witnessed substantial growth, with an increase of 76.1%. Similarly, those identifying as two or more races saw a significant rise of 57.14%. Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities associated with the Fretwell surname all experienced growth, 6.25%, 7.4%, and 34.74% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.4% | 87.56% | -3.14% |
| Black | 4.73% | 5.08% | 7.4% |
| Hispanic | 1.59% | 2.8% | 76.1% |
| Two or More Races | 1.54% | 2.42% | 57.14% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.95% | 1.28% | 34.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.8% | 0.85% | 6.25% |