This unusual name is English and has its origin in the Old English pre 7th century personal name 'Frod' or 'Froda' itself originally a byname and also found in Normandy. The Domesday Book of 1086 records one 'Frodo' as the brother of the Abbot of Bury. The derivation of the name is from the Old Norse 'frothi', meaning 'wise' or 'prudent'. As a nickname for a prudent person, this is another source for the modern day surname, since it was a common medieval practice to create a surname from a nickname. An interesting bearer of the name was James Anthony Froude (1818-1894) the historian and man of letters, who was a man of letters, who was a great friend and admirer of Thomas Carlyle and published many of his books. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Siward Frode which was dated 1184 Devonshire Pipe Rolls during the reign of King Henry II '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.

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