Frobisher (surname)

Frobisher is an occupational surname, a variant form of 'furbisher', i.e. a person who 'furbishes' (burnishes) weapons and armour as part of the production process (Middle English fourbishour, from Old French forbisseor). Notable people with the surname include:


 * Benjamin Frobisher (1742–1787), Canadian fur trader
 * Benjamin Joseph Frobisher (1782–1821), Canadian fur trader and politician, son of Joseph Frobisher
 * Joseph Frobisher (1740–1810), Canadian fur trader and politician, brother of Benjamin and Thomas Frobisher
 * Martin Frobisher (c. 1535 – 1594), English sailor and explorer
 * Thomas Frobisher (1744–1788), Canadian fur trader, brother of Joseph and Benjamin Frobisher

Fictional characters:
 * Arthur Frobisher, villainous billionaire in the television series Damages
 * Buck Frobisher, character in the television series Due South
 * Robert Frobisher, composer in the novel Cloud Atlas and mentioned in other David Mitchell books