The name was originally de Frisselle, de Freseliere, or de Fresel, and Frisale or Frisell is still the common pronunciation in Tweeddale-the first Scots home of the family-and in Lothian. The name then became Fraissier or strawberry bearer, probably from adoption of the flower of the fraisse, strawberry as part of the armorial bearings-a plant abundant in the woods of Neidpath, still however retaining the original name or pronunciation. Sir Simon Frasee, first in record in Scodand, held part of the lands of Keith in East Lothian, called from him Keith Simon. Symon ffraser gave the church of Keith to the Abbey of Kelso c. 1160 (Kelso, 13, 85). Gilbert Freser witnessed a charter by Walter Oliferd, junior, c. 1210 (SHR., II, p. 175) A later Sir Simon, called "The Scottish Patriot," was a supporter of Sir William Wallace in the struggle for independence. At Roslin in 1302 he defeated three divisions of the English army in one day. By a series of advantageous marriages the Frasers acquired lands in different parts of the country. In 1375 by a marriage with the daughter of William, earl of Ross they acquired Philorth in Buchan which became the chief seat of the family. To the Gaels the chief of the Frasers is known as MacShimidh (pron. Mackimmie), "son of Simon." The name has many spellings in record: ffrayser 1293, ffreizer 1667, Fraiser and Fraisser 1659, Frasair 1603, Frassel 1368, Fresal and Fresale 1477, Fresare 1503, Fresell 1494, Fresill 1543, Fresle 1513, Fressair 1556, Fresselye 1296, Fresser 1546, Freyser 1321, Frichell 1284, Friselle 1558, Friser 1304, Frissell 1548, Fiyssar 1566, Frysser 1491, Fiyssell 1516; Fraseir, Frasser, Fraysser, Fresall, Fresel, Fressell, Freser.

(Scot.-French-Teut.) corruption of Frisel = Frisian [Norm. forms Frisel, Fresel, Fresle: cp. Dutch Fries = Old English Fri(e)sa = Ger. Fries-länder, a Frisian; also Latin Frisii, Frisians; French Frise, Friesland; supp. derivation, Old Frisian frise, frizzled or curled (hair) + the formerly or diminutive suff. -el] Of the Baylliolse blod so sall it falle, It sall be lyke a rotyn tre; The Comyns and the Barlays alle, The Russells, and the Fresells fre.—Thomas of Ersyldoune, ii. 21-4.

“Strawberry Grower”. From Old French “Fraise”.

(Scottish, Irish) One who came from Friesland, the Frisian.

"Of the Norman origin of the Frasers it is impossible for a moment to entertain any doubt." Skene's Highlanders, ii. 311. Down to the reign of Robert Bruce they appear to have remained in the southern counties of Scotland, though afterwards they removed to the North, and assumed the dignity of a clan. The advocates of their Celtic origin derive the name from Frith-siol, "forest race." Dixon. In the Bagman Roll it is spelt Fresar, Frizel, Freshele, Frisele, and Frisle. Ibid. Frisell occurs in the so-called Battel Boll, and an ancient fief near Neufchatel, in Normandy, was called Fresles.

Fraischeur, French, freshness, coolness, bloom; Friseur, a hairdresser, from friser, French, to curl.

Or Fresel. This name does not appear in Normandy; it was of Touraine, where René Frezel, c. 1030, was a benefactor to Notre Dame de Noyers. He had issue-1. René, living 1084, who was ancestor of the house of Freseau, Marquises of La Frezeliere; 2. Simon (Des Bois). The latter came to England at the Conquest. His descendants bearing the name of Fresel or Frassel long continued in England, and t. David I. Simon Fresel settled in Scotland and c. 1150 granted the church of Keith to Kelso (Chart. Kelso). From him descend the Lords Saltoun and Lovat of Scotland, and their branches. The Celtic followers of these barons assumed the same name.

(Scotch) Fraser, Fresar, Frisel, Frisele, Freshele, de Fraser, and de Frisle, are the seven different ways in which this name is written in “Ragman Roll” (A.D. 1292-1297) by seventeen of the family; one of them being Chancellor of the Kingdom, and another Grand Chamberlain and brother-in-law of King Robert Bruce.

This surname is generally said to be of Norman origin; but is more probably Celtic, and a corruption of Frith siol, Forest tribe or race. In Gaelic, the family are called “na Friosalaich,” the Frasers, or “Clann Friosal.”

Those who claim for them a Norman descent say that the name was derived from the “fraises” or strawberry-leaves in their Arms, and that they were identical with the French Frezels; but, in my opinion, the latter is an entirely different name (variant: Frezeau). I believe, moreover, that the Scotch name is far older than the Arms; and that when the latter were adopted, or perhaps granted, canting Arms were taken, and the pun made in the court language of the times.

Gilbert de Fraser, living temp. Alex. I. (1107-1124), is the first who is to be found in charters. He possessed large estates in Tweeddale and Lothian, and was ancestor of Simon Fraser, who m. Margaret, dau. of John, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, and d. 1333. He was the immediate ancestor of the family of Lovat, which, as well as the Clan Fraser, are styled in the Highlands Mac Shimi, from him, their first chief. His descendant, Thomas Fraser, Lord Lovat, d. 1699, leaving two sons; viz., (1.) Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, Chief of the Clan Fraser, and Lord-Lieutenant of the co. Inverness, attainted for high treason in 1747; and (2.) John Fraser, who was born at Tanich, Urray, co. Ross, circa 1674. He was an active Jacobite, and therefore generally lived under an assumed name in Great Britain; being sometimes known as Mac Omas,-such being his patronymic,-and sometimes as John Dubh or Dhu. In France, however, he was styled the Chevalier Fraser de Lovat.

From the French, Fraiseur; a personal name.