Friend

Friend
This most unusual name is of early medieval English origin, and is one of that fascinating group of early surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of distinguishing qualities, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, and personal relationships. In this case, the surname Friend, also found as Frend, derives from the Middle English "frend", friend, a development of the Olde English pre 7th Century "freond", which was used as a nickname for a particularly friendly, companionable person. In the Middle Ages the term was also used of a relative or kinsman, so the surname may in some cases have been acquired by someone who belonged to the family of a more important figure in the community. Early examples of the name include Gervase Lefrend, in the Middlesex Curia Rolls of 1221, and Willelmus Frynd, in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379. The marriage of Margaret Friend and Thomas Brampton was recorded in Beddington, Surrey, on July 12th 1541. A Coat of Arms granted to a family of the name Friend depicts an ermine chevron between three silver bucks' heads cabossed on a red shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Frend, which was dated 1166, in the "Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • friend — W1S1 [frend] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(person you like)¦ 2 be friends (with somebody) 3 4 be just (good) friends 5¦(supporter)¦ 6¦(not an enemy)¦ 7¦(parliament/court of law)¦ 8 be no friend of something 9 Friend …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • friend — [ frend ] noun *** 1. ) count someone you know well and like that is not a member of your family: She s visiting friends in Illinois. close/good/great friend: Helga is a close friend of mine. friends and relatives/neighbors/acquaintances: We… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Friend — (fr[e^]nd), n. [OR. frend, freond, AS. fre[ o]nd, prop. p. pr. of fre[ o]n, fre[ o]gan, to love; akin to D. vriend friend, OS. friund friend, friohan to love, OHG. friunt friend, G. freund, Icel. fr[ae]ndi kinsman, Sw. fr[ a]nde. Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Friend — (englisch für Freund) steht für Friend (Klettergerät), spezielles Klemmgerät, eine wiederentfernbare Klettersicherung, die in Rissen, Spalten und Öffnungen im Fels verankert wird. Friend ist der Familienname folgender Personen: George Friend (*… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • friend´li|ly — friend|ly «FREHND lee», adjective. li|er, li|est, adverb, noun, plural lies. –adj. 1. of a friend; having the attitude of a friend; kind: »a friendly teacher. 2. like a friend; like that of a fr …   Useful english dictionary

  • friend|ly — «FREHND lee», adjective. li|er, li|est, adverb, noun, plural lies. –adj. 1. of a friend; having the attitude of a friend; kind: »a friendly teacher. 2. like a friend; like that of a fr …   Useful english dictionary

  • friend — [frend] n. [ME frend < OE freond, friend, lover, akin to Ger freund, prp. of Gmc * frijon, to love (> OE freon): for IE base see FREE] 1. a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance 2. a person on the …   English World dictionary

  • friend — friend, acquaintance, intimate, confidant are comparable when they designate a person, especially not related by blood, with whom one is on good and, usually, familiar terms. Friend, in its application, ranges from a person who is not hostile or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • friend — ► NOUN 1) a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. 2) a familiar or helpful thing. 3) a person who supports a particular cause or organization. 4) (Friend) a Quaker. ● a friend… …   English terms dictionary

  • Friend — Friend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Friended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Friending}.] To act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Fortune friends the bold. Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • friend — I noun acquaintance, adherent, advocate, ally, associate, backer, benefactor, cohort, colleague, companion, comrade, confidant, confederate, confrere, crony, defender, faithful companion, favorer, friend in need, partisan, partner, patron,… …   Law dictionary

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