The Origin Of The Surname Fradd

English surnames as we know them today -- family names passed down intact from father to son to grandson -- began in England as early as the eleventh century. Such hereditary names were not universally prevalent and settled, however, prior to the era of the Reformation in sixteenth century England.

It is conjectured that the introduction of parish registers in 1538 was a great influence in this, as a person entered under one surname at baptism would not be likely to be married under another name, and buried under a third. Some areas of England came later to the use of surnames, however. It was not until the late seventeenth century that many families took permanent surnames.

 

Patronymic & Matronymic Surnames 

These are surnames derived from baptismal or Christian names to indicate family relationship or descent. Some baptismal or given names have become surnames without any change in form. Others added an ending. son may have formed his surname by adding -s (more common in the South and West of England) or -son (preferred in the northern half of England) to his father's name. The latter -son suffix was also sometimes added to the mother's name. English surnames ending in -ing (from the British engi, "to bring forth," and -kin generally indicate a patronymic or family name as well.

Occupational Surnames
Many English surnames developed from a person's job or trade. Three common English surnames -- Smith, Wright and Taylor -- are excellent examples of this. A name ending in -man or -er usually implies such a trade name, as in Chapman (shopkeeper), Barker (tanner) and Fiddler. On occasion a rare occupational name can provide a clue to the family's origin. For example, Dymond (dairymen) are commonly from Devon and Arkwright (maker of arks or chests) are generally from Lancashire.

 Descriptive Surnames

Based on a unique quality or physical feature of the individual, these surnames often developed from nicknames or pet names. Most refer to an individual's appearance - colour, complexion, or physical shape - such as Armstrong. A descriptive surname may also refer to an individual's personal or moral characteristics, such as Goodchild, Puttock (greedy) or Wise.

 

Geographical or Local Surnames
These are names derived from the location of the homestead from which the first bearer and his family lived, and are generally the most common origin of English surnames. They were first introduced into England by the Normans, many of whom were known by the name of their personal estate. Thus, many English surnames derive from the name of an actual town, county, or estate. County names in Great Britain, such as Cheshire, Kent and Devon have been commonly adopted as surnames. A second class of local surnames derived from cities and towns, such as Hertford, Carlisle and Oxford. Other local surnames derive from descriptive landscape features such as hills, woods, streams and meadows which describe the original bearer's residence.

Fradd was derived from prdz, a meadow. See Praed.
PRAED, PRADE, PREAD. From prdz (Bas Bret. prdd), a meadow. There is a place named Praze in Crowan. Source:The Etymology of Cornish Surnames

This is also the origin of surnames such as Sykes (marshy stream), Bush and Attwood (near a wood). Surnames which begin with the prefix At- can especially be attributed as a name with local origins. By- was also sometimes used as a prefix for local names.

Fradd family history has rich origins of which the particulars can be pieced together by Fradd family members. The Fradd family is an old family line that has migrated all across the world over time, and as the Fradd family has spread, it has evolved making it's origin a challenge to uncover.

The evolution of Fradd starts with the origins of the surname. Even in the early generations of the name there are variations in that single name simply because surnames were infrequently written down at that stage in history.The other complication is when the records are transcribed, the name is often misread as Pradd, Tradd, Trodd, Treed etc.

Before about 1800 (and very often after that too) the only people who could write in a village were the squire (and family), the vicar and any other middle/upper class residents.
The normal working people could neither read nor write. Books were rare possessions in many households, and writing was not often required in daily life. People did not know how to spell words as there was no need to know; and this extended even to not knowing how to spell one’s own name.
Often the only occasion when knowledge of the spelling of one’s surname was needed was needed when a baptism, marriage or burial was registered at the local church.
Therefore, the spelling of surnames was very much down to the vicar's interpretation or that of his clerk, if he had one. The Vicar, although usually better educated than most of his parishioners, tended to write the names as they were pronounced.

Looking at the old records you can often see where the spelling of a surname has changed when the vicar's handwriting changed i.e. when a new one was appointed.

It was not unusual for a family name to change as it enters a new country or language.
As Fradd families emigrated between countries and languages, the Fradd name may have changed with them. Fradd and Frad are both variations that have both been found in researching the family history. 

Despite these basic surname classifications, many last names or surnames of today seem to defy explanation such as Frod, Frodde, Froad, Froud, Fraud, Frowde, Frudd and Frade.

 The majority of these are probably corruptions of the original surnames - variations that have become disguised almost beyond recognition. Surname spelling and pronunciation has evolved over many centuries, often making it hard for current generations to determine the origin and evolution of their surnames.

Such family name derivations resulting from a variety of factors, tend to confound both genealogists and etymologists.

It is fairly common for different branches of the same family to carry different last names, as the majority of English and American surnames have, in their history, appeared in four to more than a dozen variant spellings.

It appears that the Fradd family has its orgins within the parishes of Pydar and Trigg in North Cornwall, England.

The County Of Cornwall, England

There is in fact a British heritage listed building called Fradd's Meadow in Hengar Lane, St Tudy, Cornwall. Fradd, with the suffix On- can probably be attributed as a name with local origins too. Perhaps the nearby village of Fraddon was so named because it was situate 'on' a 'meadow'. Both villages of Fraddon and Fraddam are in Cornwall, England.