UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "ferm" meaning farm or agricultural worker.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Farmar surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 54, ranked #34,678, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Erith, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farmar is 140 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
54
2016, ranked #34,678
Peak year
1861
140 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farmar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farmar 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 61 | #29,103 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 52 | #32,732 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 55 | #33,349 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 56 | #34,581 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 54 | #34,678 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Erith, London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Lambeth and St Matthew Bethnal Green. 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 | Erith | Kent |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Southampton St Mary | Hampshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farmar 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 Farmar, 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 Farmar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farmar 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, Farmar 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 Farmar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farmar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farmar is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "fearm," meaning a farm or landed estate. The name would have been given to someone who worked as a farmer or resided on a farm.
In medieval England, many surnames were derived from occupations, reflecting the importance of agriculture and rural life during that time. The earliest recorded instance of the surname Farmar can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is listed as "William le Farmer."
The name Farmar is believed to have originated in the county of Gloucestershire, where it was particularly prevalent in the town of Tewkesbury and surrounding areas. Records from the 14th century show several variations in spelling, such as Fermor, Fermer, and Farmor.
One of the earliest notable bearers of the surname was John Farmar, who was born in Tewkesbury around 1450. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local council during the reign of King Henry VII.
In the 16th century, the name Farmar appeared in the parish records of Stoke Gifford, a village near Bristol. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Thomas Farmar, who was born in 1524 and served as a church warden in the village.
During the English Civil War (1642-1651), a man named Richard Farmar fought on the Royalist side and was known for his bravery in several battles. He was born in Gloucestershire in 1610 and died in 1674.
Another notable figure was Samuel Farmar, who was born in London in 1677. He was a successful merchant and philanthropist, known for his support of educational institutions and his contributions to the Church of England.
In the 18th century, the name Farmar spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire. One of the most prominent individuals was John Farmar, born in 1725 in Yorkshire. He was a wealthy landowner and served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1765.
Throughout history, the surname Farmar has been associated with various place names, such as Farmborough, Farmington, and Farmville, reflecting the agricultural roots of the name. While the name has evolved over time, it has maintained its connection to the farming and rural communities of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farmar 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. Hampshire leads with 7 Farmars recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 7 | 20.62x |
| Kent | 3 | 5.31x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 10.89x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 4.79x |
| Angus | 1 | 6.51x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.87x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 16.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holdenhurst in Hampshire leads with 4 Farmars recorded in 1881 and an index of 449.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Holdenhurst | 4 | 449.44x |
| Portsea | 3 | 45.11x |
| Barwell | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Chatham | 2 | 129.03x |
| Edgbaston | 2 | 153.85x |
| Falkirk | 1 | 69.93x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 42.92x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 53.19x |
| Wiston Robertson | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farmar 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 Farmar 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 Farmar households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dau | 2 |
| Accountant Unemployed | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Grocer (With Farther) | 1 |
| House Duties | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Landlord Of Houses | 1 |
| Landlords Wife | 1 |
| Lieut Colonel R M L J | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Farmar surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 54 in 2016. That gives Farmar a modern rank of #34,678.
An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "ferm" meaning farm or agricultural worker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farmar 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.