This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Frideswide f. Old English friþ 'peace' + Old English swīþ from Proto-Germanic *swinþaz 'strong'.

The name of a 7th-8th C Anglo-Saxon princess and saint.

England
Early Modern English
1542 Fresewith BEmar-vol1 p. 2; 1553 Fridaysweede StAnthonlin p. 10; 1559 Fresewith BEmar-vol1 p. 6; 1568 Frideswide BUmar-vol2 p. 61; 1571 Frysed WAmar-1 p. 75, Fryswyth BEmar-vol2 p. 129; 1572 Friswith OrpingtonKe p. 4; 1574 Phriswyth BEmar-vol2 p. 129; 1581 Friswith OrpingtonKe p. 6; 1582 Friswith ibid. p. 6; 1589 Fredeswyde COmar-vol5 p. 8, Friswid BEmar-vol1 p. 13; 1591 Friswith ibid. p. 14
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Frideswide". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2021, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2021/1/name/Frideswide.