FARRAR
The surname Farrar is an occupational name of Anglo‑Saxon and Old French heritage, tracing its roots back to the Latin word ferrum – iron – and the Old French ferreor, meaning blacksmith or iron worker. In Medieval England it described individuals who worked as blacksmiths or farriers, producing iron goods from horseshoes to weapons. The earliest hereditary carriage of the name appears in Yorkshire, probably recorded in the year 1275 under the form Thomas le Ferrur, during the reign of King Edward the First.
Subsequent tax and guild records provide further evidence of the name’s early use. In the Poll Tax returns for Yorkshire in 1379 a Hugo Farrour is documented, and a 1517 entry in the register of the guild of Corpus Christi in York records a Doctor Pharor. These witnesses confirm that the surname had become established and hereditary by the late Middle Ages.
The meaning of the name remained linked to ironwork throughout its history. In Britain the term came to mean specifically a maker and fitter of horseshoes, while in other countries similar occupational surnames – such as the Italian Ferrari – were likewise derived from the Latin for iron. The spelling variations that evolved over centuries – including Farrer, Farrah, Farra, Pharar, Ferror and Farrier – all share the same root and occupational origin.
Variations of the name, influenced by regional pronunciation and linguistic contact, have produced spellings such as Farror, Farrough and Farrow. In Scandinavian contexts the surname sometimes reflects the Old Norse frári, meaning dangerous or daring, though this derivation is limited to specific localities where Norse influence was strong.
The name spread beyond England through colonisation and migration. One of the earliest recorded landholders in the new American colony of Virginia was William Farrar, who received a grant of one hundred acres on the north side of the James River in 1626. Today the surname remains common in England, the United States and Australia, retaining its proud association with the skilled craft of ironworking.
Typical given names associated with the Farrar surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jill
- Judith
- Julie
- Kathleen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Fahrer
- Fairer
- Farar
- Farara
- Farari
- Fararooy
- Farau
- Farer
- Farghar
- Fargher
- Farier
- Farirai
- Farirayi
- Farore
- Farra
- Farragh
- Farragher
- Farran
- Farrara
- Farrard
- Farrare
- Farrari
- Farras
- Farraw
- Farraway
- Farray
- Farrer
- Farrers
- Farrier
- Farriers
- Farrior
- Farrir
- Farror
- Fayrer
- Fearer
- Fehrer
- Ferari
- Feraru
- Fereira
- Ferer
- Ferera
- Ferrar
- Ferrara
- Ferrard
- Ferrare
- Ferrari
- Ferrario
- Ferraris
- Ferraro
- Ferrars
- Ferrary
- Ferreira
- Ferreiro
- Ferrer
- Ferrera
- Ferreri
- Ferrero
- Ferrers
- Ferreyra
- Ferrier
- Ferriera
- Ferriere
- Ferriero
- Ferrior
- Feurer
- Feurier
- Feyrer
- Fieraru
- Firer
- Firrier
- Forer
- Forrer
- Forror
- Fourier
- Fourrier
- Friar
- Frier
- Friera
- Furer
- Furrer
- Furrier
- Pharar
- Varrier
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Farrar in...
Braille
⠋⠁⠗⠗⠁⠗
Morse
..-..-.-..-..-.-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 5,612 people named Farrar in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,686th most common surname in Britain. Around 86 in a million people in Britain are named Farrar.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Farrar
- David Farrar - Actor (1908 to 1995)
- Janet Farrar - Occultist
- Stewart Farrar - Writer (1916 to 2000)
- Albert Farrar - County cricketer (1884 to 1954)
- Fred Farrar - Rugby league player
- Hubert Farrar - Cricketer (1881 to 1939)
- Vince Farrar - Rugby league football player and coach (1947 to 2017)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.