NameCensus.

UK surname

Farley

An English occupational surname referring to a person who traveled widely or worked as a ferryman or boatman.

In the 1881 census there were 3,748 people recorded with the Farley surname, ranking it #1,221 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,677, ranked #1,180, up from #1,221 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre Forest, Teignbridge and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farley is 5,899 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.5%.

1881 census count

3,748

Ranked #1,221

Modern count

5,677

2016, ranked #1,180

Peak year

1999

5,899 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farley had 3,748 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,221 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,677 in 2016, ranked #1,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,054 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farley 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 2,220 #1,324
1861 historical 2,187 #1,337
1881 historical 3,748 #1,221
1891 historical 3,826 #1,254
1901 historical 4,618 #1,225
1911 historical 5,054 #1,038
1997 modern 5,677 #1,149
1998 modern 5,884 #1,149
1999 modern 5,899 #1,153
2000 modern 5,850 #1,155
2001 modern 5,707 #1,161
2002 modern 5,813 #1,163
2003 modern 5,663 #1,163
2004 modern 5,685 #1,154
2005 modern 5,496 #1,174
2006 modern 5,493 #1,180
2007 modern 5,520 #1,182
2008 modern 5,550 #1,182
2009 modern 5,677 #1,189
2010 modern 5,773 #1,193
2011 modern 5,682 #1,196
2012 modern 5,581 #1,192
2013 modern 5,711 #1,187
2014 modern 5,751 #1,185
2015 modern 5,708 #1,181
2016 modern 5,677 #1,180

Geography

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Where Farleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre Forest, Teignbridge, Colchester, North East Derbyshire and Preston. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre Forest 009 Wyre Forest
2 Teignbridge 009 Teignbridge
3 Colchester 016 Colchester
4 North East Derbyshire 013 North East Derbyshire
5 Preston 013 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Farley, 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 Farley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Farley 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Farley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farley is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farley falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Farley 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 Farley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Farley

The surname Farley has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "leah" meaning a meadow or woodland clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a fern-covered meadow or forest clearing.

The earliest known record of the name Farley dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions several individuals with variations of the name such as Fernleh and Fernleah. This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the 11th century.

Over the centuries, the name Farley has been found in numerous historical records and documents, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals with the surname Farlegh. Other early spellings include Farleye, Farnley, and Farnleigh.

One notable person with the surname Farley was Sir John Farley (c. 1530-1600), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Sir Samuel Farley (1594-1670), an English lawyer and politician who represented Taunton in the Long Parliament.

In the 18th century, John Farley (1713-1793) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of precision timekeeping instruments. His work influenced the design and construction of clocks and watches for generations.

The name Farley has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Farley Hill in Berkshire and Farley Green in Surrey. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the settlement of families with the Farley name in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Farley include James Lewis Farley (1888-1976), an American politician who served as the Postmaster General under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John Farley (1842-1918), an Irish-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Farley's Ophthalmic Hospital in Boston.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farley 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. Middlesex leads with 467 Farleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 467 1.27x
Devon 362 4.74x
Lancashire 339 0.78x
Surrey 324 1.81x
Sussex 315 5.09x
Kent 305 2.44x
Worcestershire 228 4.76x
Warwickshire 182 1.97x
Wiltshire 135 4.16x
Yorkshire 116 0.32x
Staffordshire 114 0.92x
Hampshire 107 1.42x
Durham 96 0.88x
Gloucestershire 85 1.18x
Essex 58 0.80x
Cornwall 54 1.30x
Herefordshire 48 3.19x
Berkshire 41 1.49x
Somerset 38 0.64x
Angus 31 0.91x
Cheshire 26 0.32x
Glamorgan 25 0.39x
Lanarkshire 23 0.19x
Midlothian 23 0.47x
Oxfordshire 23 1.01x
Northumberland 21 0.38x
Monmouthshire 18 0.68x
Suffolk 17 0.38x
Cumberland 13 0.41x
Dorset 13 0.54x
Channel Islands 12 1.10x
Northamptonshire 11 0.32x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.41x
Denbighshire 9 0.65x
West Lothian 8 1.45x
Lincolnshire 7 0.12x
Royal Navy 7 1.60x
Derbyshire 6 0.10x
Leicestershire 6 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.51x
Hertfordshire 5 0.20x
Brecknockshire 4 0.55x
East Lothian 4 0.82x
Radnorshire 3 1.01x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.20x
Bedfordshire 1 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 92 Farleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.61x.

Place Total Index
Aston 92 3.61x
St Pancras London 56 1.90x
Hackney London 50 2.43x
Lambeth 46 1.44x
Birmingham 45 1.46x
Liverpool 42 1.59x
Camberwell 34 1.45x
Heytesbury 33 278.48x
Ramsgate 32 15.66x
Kirkdale 31 4.23x
Maidstone 31 8.31x
Plympton St Mary 31 70.20x
Brighton 30 2.40x
Totnes 30 67.14x
Wolverhampton 30 3.15x
Brixham 29 32.76x
Kensington London 28 1.37x
Walton On Thames 28 34.10x
Deptford St Paul 26 2.69x
Selby 26 34.21x
Stranton 26 7.07x
Folkestone 25 10.29x
Horsham 25 20.80x
Islington London 24 0.67x
Shoreditch London 24 1.51x
Bethnal Green London 23 1.44x
Leeds 23 1.12x
Plymouth St Andrew 23 3.91x
Reading St Giles 23 8.51x
Slinfold 21 216.27x
Upton On Severn 21 66.90x
West Bromwich 21 2.96x
Woodstock 21 147.58x
Bootle Cum Linacre 20 5.78x
Clerkenwell London 20 2.31x
Dudley 20 3.43x
Hulme 20 2.20x
West Derby 20 1.57x
Andover 19 26.74x
Burwash 19 66.20x
Paddington London 19 1.41x
Tormoham 19 5.88x
Battersea 18 1.33x
Chelsea London 18 1.63x
St Marylebone London 18 0.92x
Wigan 18 2.96x
Banstead 17 35.09x
Bermondsey 17 1.56x
Dundee 17 1.34x
Ledbury 17 32.89x
St Lawrence 17 19.75x
West Ham 17 1.06x
Croydon 16 1.61x
Herne 16 28.86x
Boughton Monchelsea 15 108.62x
Farnworth 15 5.75x
Fulham London 15 2.82x
Kings Norton 15 3.49x
Manchester 15 0.77x
Wednesbury 15 4.85x
Liff Benvie 14 2.71x
Walsall Foreign 14 2.19x
Everton 13 0.94x
Holdenhurst 13 6.59x
Little Marcle 13 710.38x
Mile End Old Town London 13 1.66x
Pershore St Andrew 13 49.17x
Plumstead 13 3.11x
Wimbledon 13 6.48x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 1.26x
Cheriton Bishop 12 161.07x
Devizes St John 12 49.24x
Epsom 12 13.77x
Feckenham 12 21.88x
Kenwyn 12 11.04x
Newington 12 0.89x
Northwood 12 11.20x
Rudgwick 12 84.99x
Sunderland 12 6.22x
Rusper 11 162.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 236
Elizabeth 131
Sarah 120
Ann 78
Ellen 69
Jane 68
Annie 60
Emily 60
Eliza 59
Alice 56
Emma 53
Harriet 33
Margaret 33
Edith 30
Louisa 29
Catherine 28
Caroline 27
Florence 26
Charlotte 25
Kate 24
Martha 22
Fanny 21
Frances 21
Ada 19
Susan 19
Julia 18
Hannah 17
Rose 17
Agnes 14
Maria 14
Bridget 13
Esther 13
Amelia 12
Clara 12
Lucy 12
Matilda 11
Anne 10
Harriett 10
Nellie 10
Grace 9
Jessie 9
Minnie 9
Amy 8
Gertrude 7
Isabella 7
Lizzie 7
Margret 7
Rebecca 7
Rosa 7
Bessie 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 237
John 209
George 142
James 140
Thomas 107
Henry 91
Charles 82
Edward 62
Alfred 48
Frederick 48
Joseph 35
Walter 34
Albert 33
Harry 27
Richard 27
Samuel 24
Robert 23
Arthur 19
Ernest 18
Edwin 16
Francis 16
Frank 15
Patrick 12
Daniel 11
Herbert 11
Michael 11
Peter 11
Wm. 11
Isaac 9
Fred 7
Philip 7
Stephen 7
David 6
Fredk. 6
Owen 6
Tom 6
Abraham 5
Bernard 5
Sidney 5
Thos. 5
Amos 4
Chas. 4
Cornelius 4
Mark 4
Percy 4
Phillip 4
Geo. 3
Jno. 3
Matthew 3
Wm.Henry 3

FAQ

Farley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,748 people were recorded with the Farley surname. That placed it at #1,221 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,677 in 2016. That gives Farley a modern rank of #1,180.

What does the Farley surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who traveled widely or worked as a ferryman or boatman.

What does the Farley map show?

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