UK surname
An English surname derived from the place name "Fairnew" in Kent, England.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Farney surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Duffield and St Saviour Southwark. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farney is 221 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
92
2016, ranked #32,035
Peak year
1861
221 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farney 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 221 | #11,031 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 47 | #28,929 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 75 | #30,471 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 72 | #31,269 |
| 2003 | modern | 69 | #31,587 |
| 2004 | modern | 80 | #30,679 |
| 2005 | modern | 92 | #29,271 |
| 2006 | modern | 88 | #30,160 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 82 | #31,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 90 | #31,094 |
| 2010 | modern | 92 | #31,366 |
| 2011 | modern | 97 | #30,552 |
| 2012 | modern | 91 | #31,659 |
| 2013 | modern | 89 | #32,248 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 88 | #32,421 |
| 2016 | modern | 92 | #32,035 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Duffield, St Saviour Southwark, London parishes and Toxteth Park. 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 3 | St Saviour Southwark | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farney 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 Farney, 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 Farney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farney 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, Farney 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 Farney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farney has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "fear na" meaning "man of the" and "an óighe" meaning "the youth" or "young man". This suggests that the surname may have initially been used to describe a young man or adolescent.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Farney can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1197, the chronicle mentions a man named Farney O'Mulchahy, who was a chieftain of the O'Mulchahy clan in County Cork.
The Farney surname is particularly associated with County Monaghan, Ireland, where it is believed to have originated. The town of Carrickmacross, located in County Monaghan, was once known as Farney or Ferneys, suggesting a connection between the surname and the local geography.
In the 16th century, a famous bearer of the Farney surname was Sir Edward Farney, an Irish nobleman and soldier who fought in the Nine Years' War against the English in the late 16th century. He was known for his bravery and leadership in the conflict, which ultimately resulted in his execution by the English authorities in 1603.
Another notable figure with the Farney surname was John Farney, a 17th-century Irish Jacobite soldier who fought for the Catholic King James II during the Williamite War in Ireland. He was killed in the Battle of Aughrim in 1691, which was a decisive victory for the forces of William of Orange.
In the 18th century, a prominent member of the Farney family was Michael Farney (1718-1789), an Irish Catholic priest who served as the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise from 1776 until his death. He was known for his efforts to promote education and religious tolerance during a period of significant sectarian tensions in Ireland.
The Farney surname has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Farney Bridge in County Monaghan and Farney Castle, a 16th-century tower house located near Carrickmacross.
Overall, the surname Farney has a rich history rooted in the traditions and conflicts of medieval and early modern Ireland, with bearers of the name playing significant roles in military, religious, and political affairs throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farney 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. Yorkshire leads with 12 Farneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 12 | 2.70x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.50x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 7.49x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 7.22x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 7.56x |
| Angus | 2 | 4.81x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 7.04x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.17x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.38x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.45x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.77x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.65x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 4.97x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Linthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 5 Farneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 188.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Linthorpe | 5 | 188.68x |
| Westgate | 5 | 121.07x |
| Bradford | 4 | 37.17x |
| Fugglestone St Peter | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Manchester | 3 | 12.53x |
| Newton In Makerfield | 3 | 184.05x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 2 | 25.71x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 2 | 48.31x |
| Barony | 2 | 5.45x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 5.30x |
| Portsea | 2 | 11.09x |
| St Marythe Great | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Abernethy | 1 | 384.62x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 11.82x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 8.47x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 21.93x |
| Dundee | 1 | 6.44x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.97x |
| Kintore | 1 | 277.78x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 15.85x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.09x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 10.47x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 23.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farney 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 Farney 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 Farney households.
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Farney surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Farney a modern rank of #32,035.
An English surname derived from the place name "Fairnew" in Kent, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farney 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.