NameCensus.

UK surname

Farish

An English locational surname derived from the Old French term "ferier" referring to someone who lived near a ferry.

In the 1881 census there were 363 people recorded with the Farish surname, ranking it #8,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 714, ranked #7,599, up from #8,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Gateshead and Dumfries. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farish is 730 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96.7%.

1881 census count

363

Ranked #8,545

Modern count

714

2016, ranked #7,599

Peak year

2010

730 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farish had 363 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016, ranked #7,599.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 533 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Farish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farish surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farish 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 335 #6,984
1861 historical 343 #7,444
1881 historical 363 #8,545
1891 historical 403 #8,822
1901 historical 533 #7,697
1911 historical 395 #9,373
1997 modern 695 #7,291
1998 modern 701 #7,468
1999 modern 723 #7,342
2000 modern 718 #7,364
2001 modern 701 #7,358
2002 modern 692 #7,585
2003 modern 679 #7,576
2004 modern 683 #7,554
2005 modern 688 #7,453
2006 modern 678 #7,557
2007 modern 687 #7,535
2008 modern 709 #7,407
2009 modern 706 #7,595
2010 modern 730 #7,530
2011 modern 729 #7,469
2012 modern 695 #7,649
2013 modern 709 #7,653
2014 modern 727 #7,558
2015 modern 717 #7,580
2016 modern 714 #7,599

Geography

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Where Farishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Gateshead, Dumfries, Annan and Kirkmahoe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale and Carlisle. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Dumfries Dumfries
4 Annan Dumfries
5 Kirkmahoe Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 001 Allerdale
2 Carlisle 002 Carlisle
3 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
4 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
5 Allerdale 004 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farish

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Farish, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Farish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Farish household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Farish 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

Farish is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farish 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 Farish 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 Farish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Farish

The surname Farish is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "fœrisċ," meaning "dweller by the firs or fir trees." It is believed to have originated in the 11th century or earlier, during the Anglo-Saxon period in England.

The name was initially concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where fir trees were abundant. It is likely that the earliest bearers of this name were individuals who lived near or in areas with significant fir tree growth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farish appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry referred to a landowner named "Fariscius" in the county of Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various spellings, including "Farys," "Farish," and "Farysh," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time.

Notably, Sir John Farish (c. 1370-1444) was a prominent figure in the English wool trade and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1429 and 1430.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Farish (c. 1610-1671), an English clergyman and historian who served as the rector of Ecclesfield in Yorkshire and wrote a history of the area.

In the 18th century, Robert Farish (1736-1790) was a successful merchant and banker in London, known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting education and healthcare institutions.

Later, in the 19th century, William Farish (1819-1886) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Virginia, United States, who established several educational institutions and supported various charitable causes.

Lastly, Walter Farish (1904-1989) was a distinguished American businessman and philanthropist based in Houston, Texas, who made significant contributions to the fields of education, healthcare, and the arts.

While the surname Farish originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, as a result of migration and settlement patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farish 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. Cumberland leads with 96 Farishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.40x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 96 31.40x
Dumfriesshire 91 116.03x
Durham 39 3.69x
Lancashire 33 0.78x
Middlesex 12 0.34x
Northumberland 10 1.89x
Cheshire 9 1.15x
Lincolnshire 9 1.59x
Ayrshire 7 2.63x
Essex 6 0.86x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 11.67x
Lanarkshire 6 0.52x
Renfrewshire 6 2.18x
Roxburghshire 6 9.33x
Clackmannanshire 4 13.64x
Gloucestershire 4 0.57x
Hampshire 4 0.55x
Midlothian 4 0.84x
Surrey 3 0.17x
Yorkshire 3 0.09x
Westmorland 2 2.56x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.05x
Isle of Man 1 1.52x
Perthshire 1 0.63x
Shropshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Annan in Dumfriesshire leads with 36 Farishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 534.12x.

Place Total Index
Annan 36 534.12x
Kirkandrews On Esk 18 1730.77x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 15 32.79x
Barrow In Furness 12 20.94x
Workington 11 62.86x
Dalston 9 381.36x
Lamesley 9 158.17x
Morton 9 346.15x
Brampton 8 190.93x
Mile End Old Town London 8 10.59x
Colmonell 7 262.17x
Applegarth 6 504.20x
Barony 6 2.06x
Brandon Byshottles 6 45.35x
Castleton 6 217.39x
Dumfries 6 77.52x
Farlam 6 312.50x
Orton 6 1090.91x
St Cuthbert Within 6 169.49x
Haltwhistle 5 195.31x
High Ireby 5 3846.15x
Little Bolton 5 9.23x
Middlebie 5 212.77x
St Mary Within 5 130.89x
Tudhoe 5 54.11x
Wanstead 5 40.75x
West Greenock 5 10.12x
Bridekirk 4 163.93x
Carisbrooke 4 39.60x
Cheltenham 4 7.44x
Clackmannan 4 72.20x
Dalston Buckabank 4 645.16x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 4 223.46x
St Cuthbert W O 4 26.85x
St Mungo 4 493.83x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 4 50.06x
Urr 4 59.79x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 9.46x
Birkenhead 3 4.80x
Camberwell 3 1.32x
Canonbie 3 90.09x
Cleator 3 23.58x
Crosscanonby 3 29.67x
Everton 3 2.23x
Great Bolton 3 5.38x
Houghton Le Spring 3 41.10x
Langholm 3 53.19x
Marston 3 252.10x
North Leith 3 13.63x
Spittlegate 3 38.22x
West Derby 3 2.43x
Applethwaite 2 85.84x
Byker 2 7.66x
Dryfesdale 2 55.40x
Durrisdeer 2 148.15x
Hammersmith London 2 2.29x
Helsby 2 202.02x
Kirkmahoe 2 131.58x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.20x
Sutton St Mary 2 37.24x
Torthorwald 2 166.67x
Barnsley 1 2.76x
Cathcart 1 6.72x
Closeburn 1 54.64x
Dalton In Furness 1 6.15x
Dovenby 1 357.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.52x
Gisburn 1 156.25x
Hoddam 1 52.91x
Holme Low 1 119.05x
Johnstone 1 81.97x
Kirkbride 1 227.27x
Kirkmichael 1 96.15x
Preston 1 0.89x
Ruthwell 1 94.34x
Seghill 1 38.61x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 1 58.82x
Sutton In Macclesfield 1 12.30x
Terregles 1 175.44x
Tynemouth 1 3.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 12
Jane 10
Sarah 10
Annie 6
Ellen 4
Isabella 4
Margaret 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Cathrine 3
Janet 3
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Maggie 2
Margt. 2
Alice 1
Barbara 1
Clara 1
Clementina 1
Elizth. 1
Elspeth 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Jennet 1
Jesse 1
Julia 1
Keturah 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Margrate 1
Martha 1
Rosanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
George 13
William 13
James 12
Robert 9
Thomas 9
Joseph 8
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Adam 2
David 2
Francis 2
Isaac 2
Lancelot 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Fleming 1
Frederick 1
Isac 1
Marshell 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Tom 1
W.Robert 1
Watson 1
Willm.M. 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Farish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 363 people were recorded with the Farish surname. That placed it at #8,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016. That gives Farish a modern rank of #7,599.

What does the Farish surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the Old French term "ferier" referring to someone who lived near a ferry.

What does the Farish map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farish 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.