Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
FRIAR
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: French.) From Frère, a brother, a member of a religious order; a monk who is not a priest, those friars who are in orders being called fathers.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
FRIAR. See Ecclesiastical Surnames.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
Surname type: Status name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English