This interesting surname is of English locational origin from Frobury in Hampshire. The placename is first recorded as "Frolebiri" in 1185 and later as "Frellesbur" in the 1249 Book of Fees and was once apparently the Old English pre 7th Century "Freohyll" composed of the personal name "Frig" plus "hyll" a hill; hence "Frig's hill". The surname is first recorded in the early 17th Century (see below). Recordings of the surname from the English church registers include; Jean, daughter of John Fribery, was christened on April 6th 1617, at St. Peter and Pauls Wharf, London; the marriage of John Freeberry to Mary Follett, took place on October 24th 1644, at St. Mary, Putney, London; William Freebury who was christened on February 22nd 1674, at St. Maurice, Winchester, Hampshire; William Freebury who married Alice Goslyn on June 21st 1674, in the same place; William son of William and Amia Freebury, who was christened on November 12th 1789, at Endell Street, Holborn, London; and on October 19th 1809, John Freebury married Ann Linton, at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Frybery, who married Prudence Leddall, which was dated December 26th 1616, St. Peter and Pauls Wharf, London, during the reign of king James 1 of England, 1603 - 1625. 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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