Fraser

Fraser is a name used in several contexts. It is primarily a surname of Scottish origin, associated with the Clan Fraser of Lovat, and it is also encountered as a given name in some cases. The surname is common in Scotland and has spread widely through migration and diaspora in the English-speaking world.

As a surname, Fraser has been borne by many figures in politics, literature, science, and the arts. The Clan Fraser of Lovat historically held lands in the Scottish Highlands and played a role in regional history; the name remains widely used in Scotland and among descendants abroad.

Geographically, Fraser appears in several place names. The Fraser River in British Columbia is one of Canada’s major rivers, rising in the Coast Mountains and flowing to the Pacific Ocean at the area near Vancouver, where it supports significant commercial and sport fishing. Fraser Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, is the world’s largest sand island and a popular ecotourism site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. There are communities named Fraser in North America, including Fraser, Colorado.

In addition to people and places, Fraser is the name of institutions such as the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank known for its research on economic and social issues.

Fraser can also be used as a given name, though it is far more commonly encountered as a surname.