UK surname
An occupational surname for a person who worked or lived on a fern-covered hill or near a fern-filled area.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Farner surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Dudley and Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farner is 405 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.8%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
405 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farner surname density by area, 1891 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 | 98 | #17,383 |
| 1861 | historical | 360 | #7,095 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 405 | #8,789 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 50 | #27,806 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Dudley, Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith, St Pancras and St Dunstan Stepney. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farner 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 Farner, 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 Farner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farner 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, Farner 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 Farner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farner has its origins in Germany, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "farn," which means "to travel" or "to wander." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who traveled frequently or had a nomadic lifestyle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farner can be found in the Biberach Codex, a medieval manuscript from the 14th century that contains legal documents and records from the region of Swabia in southern Germany. In this document, the name is spelled as "Farner."
During the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the name Farner began to appear in various records and documents across different parts of Germany. One notable example is Johannes Farner (1480-1542), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
As the name spread across different regions, various spellings emerged, such as Fahrner and Färner. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or the way the name was pronounced in different areas.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Farner can be found in several historical records, including parish registers and census records from various German states. One notable individual from this period is Johann Michael Farner (1686-1767), a German painter and engraver known for his religious artworks.
Another notable figure with the surname Farner was Friedrich Farner (1787-1853), a German writer and poet from the city of Nuremberg. He is best known for his collection of poems titled "Gedichte" (Poems), published in 1828.
As the name Farner spread throughout the German-speaking regions of Europe, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. For example, in the 19th century, there were several individuals with the surname Farner who settled in the United States and other countries.
One such individual was Karl Farner (1826-1902), a German-American inventor and engineer who is credited with developing the first practical rotary printing press, which revolutionized the printing industry.
Despite its German origins, the surname Farner has been found in various other countries, likely due to immigration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval German regions, where it first emerged as a name associated with travel or wandering.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farner 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. Kent leads with 9 Farners recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 9 | 7.51x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 5.65x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.14x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.72x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.75x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.86x |
| Durham | 2 | 1.91x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 8.26x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.29x |
| Dorset | 1 | 4.34x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.69x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 2.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Headcorn in Kent leads with 8 Farners recorded in 1881 and an index of 4444.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Headcorn | 8 | 4444.44x |
| Cubbington | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Hipperholme Cum | 3 | 196.08x |
| Manchester | 3 | 16.01x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 10.61x |
| Hemel Hempstead | 2 | 183.49x |
| Battersea | 1 | 7.74x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 16.18x |
| Bolehall Glascote | 1 | 263.16x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 4.46x |
| Cambusnethan | 1 | 39.68x |
| Canterbury All Sts | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Dudley | 1 | 17.95x |
| Ford | 1 | 322.58x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 5.12x |
| Newington | 1 | 7.71x |
| Ore | 1 | 227.27x |
| Poole St James | 1 | 114.94x |
| Winlaton | 1 | 100.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farner 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 Farner 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 Farner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Bk Labourer | 1 |
| Box Maker Unemployed | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Coke Drawer | 1 |
| Commission Mercht Clerk | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cordwainer | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| G Lab | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Letting Aparments | 1 |
| Plaiter (Straw) | 1 |
| Quarryman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Farner surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Farner a modern rank of #38,110.
An occupational surname for a person who worked or lived on a fern-covered hill or near a fern-filled area.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farner 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.