UK surname
A surname deriving from a location name referring to a distant or far place.
In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Farness surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2014, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,020, down from #33,498 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Darlington and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farness is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
3
Ranked #33,498
Modern count
1
2014, ranked #39,020
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farness surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farness 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 3 | #33,498 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Darlington, Birstall, Eccles and Wakefield. 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 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Darlington | Durham |
| 3 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 5 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farness 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 Farness, 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 Farness surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farness 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, Farness 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 Farness is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farness, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farness is believed to have originated in Scotland, dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "fearn," which means fern, and the Old Norse word "nes," meaning headland or promontory. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a fern-covered headland or coastal area.
One of the earliest records of the Farness name can be found in the Scottish Parish Registers of the late 1500s. These registers document the births, marriages, and deaths of Scottish families during that period. The name appears to have been most prevalent in the regions of Aberdeenshire and Angus, though it was also found in other parts of Scotland.
In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Farness was William Farness, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived in Edinburgh. He was born in 1625 and died in 1693. Records indicate that he owned several properties in the city and was involved in trade with other parts of Europe.
Another notable bearer of the Farness name was John Farness, a Scottish soldier who fought in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. He was born in 1718 and died in 1792. Historical accounts mention his bravery in battle and his loyalty to the Jacobite cause.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Farness was Robert Farness, a Scottish engineer and inventor. He was born in 1825 and died in 1902. Farness was known for his contributions to the development of steam engines and other industrial machinery during the Industrial Revolution.
The name Farness has also been associated with certain place names in Scotland. For example, there is a village called Farness in Aberdeenshire, which may have derived its name from the surname or vice versa. Additionally, there are records of locations such as "Farness Hill" and "Farness Moor" in various parts of the country.
Throughout history, the surname Farness has been spelled in various ways, including Fairness, Ferness, and Farnesse. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Scottish landscape and its connection to ferns and coastal headlands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farness 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. Berkshire leads with 1 Farness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 1 | 45.66x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 15.50x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 2.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkdale in Lancashire leads with 1 Farness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farness surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Ellen | 1 |
| Wilhelmeni | 1 |
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 Farness households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Cook | 1 |
| Not Specified | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Farness surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2014. That gives Farness a modern rank of #39,020.
A surname deriving from a location name referring to a distant or far place.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farness 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.