NameCensus.

UK surname

Farnell

A diminutive form of the Middle English word for ferny, originally referring to one who lived near a ferny place.

In the 1881 census there were 1,103 people recorded with the Farnell surname, ranking it #3,603 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,597, ranked #3,889, down from #3,603 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Bradford and Market Drayton or Drayton-in-Hales. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Bradford and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farnell is 1,643 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.8%.

1881 census count

1,103

Ranked #3,603

Modern count

1,597

2016, ranked #3,889

Peak year

2010

1,643 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farnell had 1,103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,603 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,597 in 2016, ranked #3,889.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,616 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farnell 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 576 #4,422
1861 historical 658 #4,075
1881 historical 1,103 #3,603
1891 historical 1,273 #3,394
1901 historical 1,358 #3,696
1911 historical 1,616 #3,008
1997 modern 1,533 #3,838
1998 modern 1,624 #3,785
1999 modern 1,625 #3,815
2000 modern 1,605 #3,847
2001 modern 1,534 #3,914
2002 modern 1,577 #3,904
2003 modern 1,560 #3,861
2004 modern 1,549 #3,885
2005 modern 1,552 #3,840
2006 modern 1,561 #3,809
2007 modern 1,565 #3,832
2008 modern 1,579 #3,834
2009 modern 1,625 #3,831
2010 modern 1,643 #3,865
2011 modern 1,614 #3,890
2012 modern 1,598 #3,854
2013 modern 1,636 #3,842
2014 modern 1,634 #3,869
2015 modern 1,612 #3,879
2016 modern 1,597 #3,889

Geography

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Where Farnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Bradford, Market Drayton or Drayton-in-Hales, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Bradford, Walsall, Leeds and Wakefield. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Market Drayton or Drayton-in-Hales Shropshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
2 Bradford 043 Bradford
3 Walsall 010 Walsall
4 Leeds 106 Leeds
5 Wakefield 020 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farnell

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Farnell 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

Farnell is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Farnell

The surname Farnell is of English origin, deriving from a locational name for someone who lived near a fern-covered hill or valley. The name is derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "hyll" meaning hill. The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 13th century, with William de Ferendelle documented in Yorkshire in 1273.

Records indicate that the Farnell family was well-established in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is also found in various forms such as Farnhill, Fernhill, and Fearnley. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John de Farnhill, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275.

The Farnell surname has a notable presence in historical records. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Ferendene" is mentioned, which is believed to be the origin of the Farnell name. Additionally, the Farnell family is documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327, suggesting their prominence in the region during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Farnell surname. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Thomas Farnell (c. 1575-1647), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire. Another prominent figure was John Farnell (1767-1826), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the realm of literature, Walter Farnell (1896-1964) was a British playwright and screenwriter, best known for his works such as "The Spanish Curate" and "The Hanging Judge." William Farnell (1809-1886), an English clergyman and antiquarian, authored several works on the history and archaeology of the region.

Another notable bearer of the Farnell name was Sir Thomas Farnell (1766-1829), a British naval officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was commended for his bravery and leadership in several battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

While the Farnell surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. However, the historical records and lineages mentioned above provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farnell 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. Yorkshire leads with 460 Farnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 460 4.34x
Lancashire 148 1.17x
Staffordshire 132 3.65x
Warwickshire 102 3.78x
Shropshire 61 6.60x
Middlesex 37 0.35x
Kent 25 0.68x
Devon 14 0.63x
Wiltshire 13 1.37x
Dumfriesshire 11 4.65x
Hampshire 10 0.46x
Sussex 9 0.50x
Derbyshire 8 0.48x
Glamorgan 8 0.43x
Fife 7 1.11x
Monmouthshire 7 0.90x
Surrey 7 0.13x
Cheshire 6 0.25x
Lanarkshire 6 0.17x
Bedfordshire 5 0.90x
Oxfordshire 4 0.61x
Somerset 4 0.23x
Essex 3 0.14x
Worcestershire 3 0.21x
Berkshire 2 0.25x
Lincolnshire 2 0.12x
Norfolk 2 0.12x
Brecknockshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Drayton In Hales in Shropshire leads with 56 Farnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 293.81x.

Place Total Index
Drayton In Hales 56 293.81x
Halifax 55 35.33x
Ovenden 52 110.19x
Birmingham 44 4.89x
Elland Cum Greetland 34 71.17x
Aston 33 4.44x
Northowram 32 43.03x
Barrowford Booth 31 220.64x
Horton In Bradford 29 17.51x
Stoke Upon Trent 29 7.57x
Wednesbury 26 28.80x
Walsall Foreign 22 11.79x
Leeds 21 3.51x
Thornton In Bradford 20 56.66x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 7.42x
Bradford 15 5.84x
Warley 13 42.41x
Headingley Cum Burley 12 17.58x
Annan 11 54.19x
Beckenham 10 20.95x
Bedford 10 37.65x
Brightside Bierlow 10 4.81x
Broughton In Salford 10 8.61x
Ardwick 9 7.86x
Hopwood 9 54.22x
St Pancras London 9 1.04x
Stretford 9 12.88x
Walmersley Cum 9 44.36x
Aldwark 8 975.61x
Clayton 8 30.83x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 9.93x
Holy Trinity 8 3.14x
Litchurch 8 11.87x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 4.47x
Nuneaton 8 25.59x
Ryton 8 1052.63x
Saxton Cum 8 601.50x
West Bromwich 8 3.87x
Wortley In Bramley 8 9.52x
Acton 7 11.16x
Carlton In Skipton 7 112.90x
Cheslyn Hay 7 106.22x
Corsham 7 50.69x
Cupar 7 25.41x
Southowram 7 21.63x
Spotland 7 4.96x
St Woollos 7 8.11x
Cambuslang 6 17.20x
Castleford 6 15.54x
Castleton 6 4.73x
Doncaster 6 7.74x
Edgbaston 6 7.17x
Handsworth 6 6.74x
Kingswinford 6 4.57x
Longparish 6 241.94x
Middleton In Oldham 6 15.76x
Midgley 6 53.10x
Tottington Higher End 6 41.52x
Bowling 5 4.76x
Bradford Girlington 5 105.49x
Bridlington 5 20.59x
Eastbourne 5 6.02x
Eccleshall 5 36.50x
Egg Buckland 5 131.58x
Great Bolton 5 2.97x
Great Wyrley 5 127.55x
Hackney London 5 0.83x
Haworth 5 19.83x
Ince In Makerfield 5 8.46x
Scarborough 5 5.19x
Skircoat 5 11.96x
Ampthill 4 48.37x
Deptford St Paul 4 1.42x
East Wickham 4 92.38x
Heap 4 5.94x
Kentisbeare 4 130.29x
Laycock 4 93.24x
Sculcoates 4 2.38x
Shifnal 4 15.94x
Whatley 4 253.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 80
Sarah 45
Elizabeth 32
Ann 27
Emma 22
Jane 20
Annie 16
Hannah 16
Alice 15
Ellen 15
Emily 11
Martha 11
Eliza 10
Ada 9
Clara 9
Margaret 9
Catherine 6
Harriet 6
Ruth 6
Charlotte 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Edith 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Frances 4
Louisa 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Sophia 4
Betty 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Kate 3
Matilda 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Dinah 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Nancy 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Augusta 1
Charlottie 1
Christine 1
Clarinda 1
E.H. 1
George 1
Zelder 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 63
William 57
Thomas 44
George 41
James 28
Henry 23
Joseph 22
Arthur 17
Charles 16
Samuel 14
Richard 13
Harry 11
Frank 10
Edward 9
Walter 9
Alfred 7
Robert 7
Frederick 6
Herbert 6
Albert 5
Isaac 5
Elijah 4
Ernest 4
David 3
Enos 3
Wright 3
Adam 2
Ambrose 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Francis 2
Hamlet 2
Hirst 2
Leonard 2
Matthew 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Phineas 2
Reuben 2
Riley 2
Rowland 2
Tom 2
Wilson 2
Wm. 2
Benj. 1
Edwd. 1
Zichariah 1

FAQ

Farnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,103 people were recorded with the Farnell surname. That placed it at #3,603 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,597 in 2016. That gives Farnell a modern rank of #3,889.

What does the Farnell surname mean?

A diminutive form of the Middle English word for ferny, originally referring to one who lived near a ferny place.

What does the Farnell map show?

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