NameCensus.

UK surname

Fargher

A surname derived from an Old Norse word meaning "traveler" or "wanderer".

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Fargher surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, up from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Southampton St Mary and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Bury and Paisley North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fargher is 251 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 165.9%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

1999

251 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fargher had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 195 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fargher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Fargher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Fargher surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fargher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 98 #17,383
1861 historical 46 #28,170
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 161 #17,473
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 195 #15,197
1997 modern 236 #15,852
1998 modern 244 #15,947
1999 modern 251 #15,751
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 221 #16,987
2004 modern 239 #16,193
2005 modern 229 #16,631
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 214 #18,358
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Farghers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Southampton St Mary, West Derby, Dalton-in-Furness and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Bury, Paisley North, Cheshire East and Newark and Sherwood. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
2 Bury 008 Bury
3 Paisley North Renfrewshire
4 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East
5 Newark and Sherwood 009 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fargher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Fargher surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fargher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fargher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Fargher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fargher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Fargher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fargher is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fargher falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fargher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fargher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fargher

The surname Fargher originates from the Isle of Man, a small island situated between Great Britain and Ireland. Its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 6th-7th century AD. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "fjara," meaning "foreshore" or "beach," combined with the English suffix "-er," indicating an occupation or person associated with a particular place.

The earliest recorded instances of the Fargher name appear in the Manx Book of Customs, a collection of laws and traditions from the Isle of Man, dating back to the late 13th century. This suggests that the name was already well-established on the island by that time. It is possible that the name originally referred to individuals who lived or worked near the shoreline, perhaps as fishermen, coastal traders, or farmers who tended land near the seashore.

In the 16th century, records show that the Fargher family held significant landholdings in the parish of Kirk Christ Rushen, located in the southern part of the Isle of Man. One notable individual from this period was John Fargher, born around 1520, who served as the High Bailiff of the Isle of Man, a position of great importance at the time.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several members of the Fargher family emigrated from the Isle of Man to neighboring regions, including Scotland, Ireland, and parts of England. One such individual was William Fargher, born in 1685, who settled in County Antrim, Ireland, and established a successful farming enterprise.

In the 19th century, the surname Fargher gained wider recognition with the birth of John Fargher (1809-1893), a prominent Manx poet and language revivalist. His works played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Manx language and cultural heritage.

Another notable figure was Thomas Fargher (1831-1908), a Manx engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and marine propulsion systems. His innovations were instrumental in advancing maritime technology during the industrial revolution.

The Fargher surname has also been associated with several places on the Isle of Man, such as Fargher's Glen, a picturesque valley located near the village of Ballaugh, and Fargher's Cottage, a historic building in the town of Peel.

Throughout history, the Fargher name has maintained a strong presence on the Isle of Man, with many families tracing their ancestry back to the island. While the name has spread to other parts of the world due to emigration, its roots remain deeply embedded in the rich cultural heritage of the Manx people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fargher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fargher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Isle of Man leads with 412 Farghers recorded in 1881 and an index of 460.39x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 412 460.39x
Lancashire 69 1.21x
Yorkshire 4 0.08x
Hampshire 3 0.30x
Middlesex 3 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.24x
Surrey 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Malew in Isle of Man leads with 93 Farghers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1189.26x.

Place Total Index
Malew 93 1189.26x
Lonan 64 1180.81x
Onchan 56 217.22x
Maughold 34 492.75x
German Peel 33 640.78x
Patrick 24 550.46x
St Anne 22 2291.67x
German 19 389.34x
Lezayre 19 473.82x
Dalton In Furness 15 67.97x
Kirkdale 11 11.44x
Braddan 10 204.50x
Toxteth Park 10 5.16x
Ballaugh 7 437.50x
Broughton In Salford 7 13.39x
Douglas 7 542.64x
Little Bolton 6 8.16x
Rushen 6 99.17x
Arbory 5 256.41x
Jurby 5 462.96x
Liverpool 5 1.44x
West Derby 5 2.99x
Everton 4 2.19x
Huddersfield 3 4.31x
Marown 3 184.05x
Michael 2 109.89x
Ryde 2 9.43x
Above Derwent 1 64.94x
Andreas 1 41.15x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.29x
Bow London 1 1.63x
Bride 1 81.97x
Bulmer Stittenham 1 188.68x
Bury 1 1.53x
Elton 1 5.06x
Holdenhurst 1 3.86x
Islington London 1 0.21x
Lambeth 1 0.24x
Lower Upper Holker 1 128.21x
Madron Penzance 1 5.04x
Moss Side 1 3.32x
Ramsey 1 1428.57x
Ulverston 1 6.00x
Westminster St Margaret 1 4.30x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fargher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 21
Margaret 21
Jane 20
Isabella 16
Ann 14
Mary 12
Catherine 10
Eleanor 8
Sarah 8
Annie 7
Emily 7
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Amelia 4
Elizth. 4
Emma 4
Esther 4
Margret 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Margt. 3
Florence 2
Frances 2
Maggie 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Betsey 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Christian 1
Clara 1
Ellenor 1
Ellinor 1
Ester 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Janey 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kittie 1
Lina 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marey 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fargher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 45
John 42
Thomas 40
Robert 19
Joseph 13
Edward 12
Charles 9
Henry 7
James 6
Frederick 5
Philip 5
George 4
Wm. 4
Arthur 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Ambrose 2
Edwin 2
Paul 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Anderson 1
Caesar 1
Chas. 1
Christian 1
Clucas 1
Daurel 1
David 1
Denis 1
Edwd. 1
Forbes 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jonadab 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Oakleith 1
Rbt. 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Walther 1

FAQ

Fargher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fargher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Fargher surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fargher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Fargher a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Fargher surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old Norse word meaning "traveler" or "wanderer".

What does the Fargher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fargher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.