This is an English form of a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "Frid" or "Fred" for peace and "Ric" meaning power, introduced into England by the Normans. This was a hereditary name among the Hohenstaufen ruling Family, hence its popularity in Central Europe. Within England, the name appears chiefly in the Eastern Counties, the Duke of York and Albany was Augustus Frederick (1763 - 1827) married the eldest daughter of Frederick William II of Prussia in 1791 and was made quardian of the King in 1818. Going back in time, records show that a James Fratherick married Katherine Simonds on 29th September at St. Dunstan's in the East London, and the infant Anne Frederick was christened on the 20th October at St. Mary's White Chapel, Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Frethryk, which was dated 1275, The Hundred Rolls of Suffolk, during the reign of King Edward I, The Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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