Frazer

Meaning & origin

Frazer is a Scottish surname that saw modest use as a first name in the early 20th century. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1914 and reached its highest usage in 1930, though it never cracked the top 1,000. From the 1930s onward, its use has been stable but rare, with no significant revival. The name's etymology is debated: it may derive from the Old French 'fraisier' (strawberry), referring to a place where strawberries grew, or from Gaelic 'freasail' (forest). As a given name, it follows the pattern of borrowing clan surnames as first names, a trend popularized in the Anglophone world. The alternative spellings Fraser and Frazier are more common, and Frazer remains a distinctive choice for parents drawn to Scottish heritage.

Frazer is a Scottish surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French 'fraisier' (strawberry), possibly indicating an ancestral home where strawberries grew. Alternatively, it may come from the Gaelic 'freasail' (of the forest). The name has been in use as a surname since the 12th century and began as a given name in the early 20th century, following the fashion for surname-names.