UK surname
A medieval English occupational surname denoting someone who worked with iron and made ferrules.
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Farler surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and St James and St Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farler is 123 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.2%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
123 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farler surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farler surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 17 | #30,267 |
| 1861 | historical | 123 | #17,914 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 84 | #26,229 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 44 | #33,462 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 41 | #33,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 33 | #35,461 |
| 2008 | modern | 34 | #35,502 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, St James and St Paul, Clifton and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 3 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Clifton | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farler surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Farler, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Farler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Farler is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Farler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farler, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farler is of English origin, first appearing in records from the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "faerl", meaning a journey or passage. This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who traveled frequently, such as a merchant or trader.
One of the earliest known references to the surname Farler can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Robert Farler is mentioned as a landowner. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Treasury, indicating the name had already become established by this time.
In the 13th century, variations of the spelling started to appear, includingFareler, Farlere, and Farlour. These alternate forms highlight the evolution of the name over time, as pronunciation and written records adapted to changes in language and dialects across different regions.
The Farler surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Farlers Green in Buckinghamshire and Farlers End in Hertfordshire. These locations likely took their names from early Farler settlers or landowners in those areas.
Notable individuals with the Farler surname throughout history include:
1. Sir William Farler (1548-1612), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the late 16th century.
2. John Farler (1645-1721), a prominent English merchant and trader who established a successful business exporting wool to the Netherlands and France.
3. Mary Farler (1720-1795), a British writer and poet whose works were published in several literary magazines of the 18th century.
4. Thomas Farler (1781-1859), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London during the Georgian era.
5. Elizabeth Farler (1870-1948), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's right to vote and participated in numerous protests and demonstrations in the early 20th century.
While the Farler surname is not among the most common in England, its long history and connections to various regions and notable figures make it a distinctive and intriguing name within the country's rich onomastic heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farler surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 25 Farlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 25 | 25.64x |
| Somerset | 15 | 18.74x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 5.58x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.40x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.16x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.98x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clifton in Gloucestershire leads with 13 Farlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 263.69x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton | 13 | 263.69x |
| Kewstoke | 8 | 6153.85x |
| Aston | 7 | 20.27x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 7 | 76.25x |
| Bedminster | 4 | 53.19x |
| Horfield | 4 | 408.16x |
| Pinner | 2 | 454.55x |
| Nailsea | 1 | 312.50x |
| Penarth | 1 | 117.65x |
| Rockbourne | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 54.05x |
| Weston | 1 | 161.29x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 49.51x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Farler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Farler households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Masons Labourer | 2 |
| Teacher Of Music | 2 |
| (D) Gardener | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bar Maid | 1 |
| Butter Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Merchant Seller | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller (Drapery) | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gardener (D) | 1 |
| Glass Founder | 1 |
| Lodginghouse Keeper | 1 |
| No Profession | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Retired Grocer | 1 |
| Ship Owner (Nsons) | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Farler surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Farler a modern rank of #35,997.
A medieval English occupational surname denoting someone who worked with iron and made ferrules.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farler bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.