FROST
Frost is an English surname, historically documented in the British Isles from the earliest medieval period, and continuing to the present day. The name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, evidencing its long-established use.
The surname derives from the Old English word frost, meaning a covering of ice or a freezing temperature. As a topographic surname it was initially applied to individuals residing in areas frequently affected by frost, while as a nickname it was often used for persons of a cold or frosty disposition, or sometimes to describe physical characteristics such as white hair or beard.
Early documentary evidence records the name in the spellings Forst and Frost. The first documented instance is that of William Forst in the Domesday Book of Hampshire, recorded during the reign of King William I (The Conqueror). Subsequent medieval references include Lefstan Frost in the Feudal Documents of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1095, and Gilbert Frost of Warwick in the 1195 pipe rolls.
In the seventeenth century, notable bearers of the surname appear in various civic and religious contexts. John Frost of Cambridge (1626–1667) was a Puritan divine and contemporary of Oliver Cromwell, while Thomas Frost, aged thirty‑two, is recorded as one of the earliest settlers in the New World, journeying from London aboard the ship John in October 1635 to St Christopher in the West Indies.
Throughout English history the surname Frost has remained relatively unchanged in spelling and form, reflecting its early stability and continued prevalence. Its endurance from the Domesday Book to modern registers demonstrates the name’s significance within English onomastic tradition. The use of the name today, particularly within the United Kingdom, continues to honour its ancient heritage while serving as a characteristic identifier within contemporary genealogical scholarship.
Typical given names associated with the Frost surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Barbara
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Fross
- Frosh
- Froast
- Forst
- Fros
- Froste
- Fairest
- Farasat
- Farest
- Fariest
- Farist
- Farrest
- Farsad
- Farsett
- Farside
- Farzad
- Ferrest
- Ferrist
- Ferst
- Ferszt
- Feurst
- First
- Firszt
- Forcett
- Forest
- Foresta
- Foreste
- Foresti
- Forist
- Forrcett
- Forrest
- Forrestt
- Forriest
- Forrist
- Forset
- Forsett
- Forste
- Forsyte
- Forzati
- Frast
- Frausto
- Frest
- Fresta
- Frezzato
- Friest
- Frist
- Frosi
- Froster
- Frostic
- Frostick
- Frostie
- Frostman
- Frostrup
- Frosts
- Frostwick
- Frust
- Fuerst
- Furst
- Furste
- Verest
- Verriest
- Verroest
- Vorst
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Frost in...
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Frost are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger Nut.
There are approximately 30,969 people named Frost in the UK. That makes it the 257th most common surname in Britain. Around 476 in a million people in Britain are named Frost.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Frost
- Nick Frost - Actor
- David Frost - Journalist, comedian, writer, media personality and daytime TV game show host (1939 to 2013)
- Jo Frost - Television personality
- Sadie Frost - Actress and producer
- Robert Frost - American poet (1874 to 1963)
- Jenny Frost - Singer, songwriter
- Stephen Frost - Comedian
- Wilfred Frost -
- Terry Frost - Artist (1915 to 2003)
- David Frost - Diplomat
- Gavin Frost - American author and Wiccan (1930 to 2016)
- Honor Frost - Underwater archaeologist (1917 to 2010)
- John Frost - Welsh Chartist (1784 to 1877)
- Jonathan Frost - Bishop
- James Frost - Musician
- Lee Frost - Football player
- Ollie Frost - Rugby union player
- Robert I. Frost - Historian
- Georgia Frost - Model
- Mark Frost - Darts player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.