UK surname
A surname derived from the Middle English term for a rented or leased landed property.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Farms surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Whitworth and Buxted. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farms is 111 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.2%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
111 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farms surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farms 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 | 30 | #27,891 |
| 1861 | historical | 111 | #19,429 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 69 | #28,188 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 25 | #35,413 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 29 | #36,004 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Whitworth, Buxted, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) and Govan Combination. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Whitworth | Durham |
| 3 | Buxted | Sussex |
| 4 | Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) | Durham |
| 5 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farms 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 Farms, 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 Farms surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farms 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, Farms 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 Farms is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farms, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FARMS originates from England and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "ferm," which means a pasture, grazing land, or a farm. The name was likely given to someone who lived on or worked on a farm or grazing land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FARMS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in various forms, such as "de la Ferme" or "at the Farm."
In the 13th century, there are records of a Richard de la Ferme in Oxfordshire, England. Another notable figure was John Farms, a landowner in Gloucestershire, who lived in the late 14th century.
During the 16th century, the surname FARMS began to take its modern spelling. One notable person from this period was William Farms, a merchant from London, born in 1523.
In the 17th century, a branch of the FARMS family settled in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Thomas Farms, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.
Other notable individuals with the surname FARMS include:
1. Sir John Farms (1620-1692), an English politician and member of Parliament. 2. Edward Farms (1730-1807), a British botanist and horticulturist. 3. Mary Farms (1788-1863), an English writer and poet. 4. Charles Farms (1825-1898), an American businessman and philanthropist. 5. William Farms (1867-1945), a British explorer and writer who documented his travels in Africa.
The surname FARMS is also connected to various place names in England, such as Farmborough in Somerset and Farmington in Gloucestershire. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "ferm," indicating the presence of farmlands or grazing areas in those regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farms 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. Lanarkshire leads with 19 Farms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 19 | 12.55x |
| Fife | 11 | 39.71x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.44x |
| Durham | 6 | 4.31x |
| East Lothian | 2 | 32.26x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Inverkeithing in Fife leads with 11 Farms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2619.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Inverkeithing | 11 | 2619.05x |
| Barony | 10 | 26.10x |
| Glasgow | 9 | 33.48x |
| Pittington | 4 | 1025.64x |
| Tonge | 4 | 341.88x |
| Hulme | 2 | 17.26x |
| Oldhamstocks | 2 | 2222.22x |
| West Derby | 2 | 12.31x |
| Barnby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Edmondsley | 1 | 666.67x |
| Hinderwell | 1 | 250.00x |
| Hurworth | 1 | 416.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farms 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 Farms 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 Farms households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Butchers Shopman | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cloth Mangler At A Chemical Works | 1 |
| Cotton Polisher | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Plate Layer Wife | 1 |
| Stoker On Steamer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Farms surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Farms a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname derived from the Middle English term for a rented or leased landed property.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farms 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.