NameCensus.

UK surname

Farran

An Irish surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an old Gaelic personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 222 people recorded with the Farran surname, ranking it #12,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 259, ranked #16,393, down from #12,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farran is 301 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.7%.

1881 census count

222

Ranked #12,022

Modern count

259

2016, ranked #16,393

Peak year

1911

301 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farran had 222 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016, ranked #16,393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 301 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Farran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farran 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 177 #11,441
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 222 #12,022
1891 historical 252 #12,685
1901 historical 278 #12,252
1911 historical 301 #11,422
1997 modern 250 #15,281
1998 modern 255 #15,470
1999 modern 267 #15,097
2000 modern 254 #15,578
2001 modern 253 #15,403
2002 modern 254 #15,641
2003 modern 257 #15,341
2004 modern 251 #15,655
2005 modern 248 #15,721
2006 modern 263 #15,215
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 257 #15,777
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 270 #15,667
2013 modern 273 #15,802
2014 modern 271 #15,986
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 259 #16,393

Geography

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Where Farrans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Eccles, Manchester, Lambeth and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen and Copeland. 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 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 008 Blackburn with Darwen
2 Blackburn with Darwen 011 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Blackburn with Darwen 001 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Blackburn with Darwen 014 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Copeland 006 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Farran, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Farran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Farran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Farran is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farran is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Farran

The surname Farran is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval Gaelic language. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "fearann," which translates to "land" or "territory." This suggests that the name was initially associated with landowners or individuals who held significant tracts of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the Farran surname can be found in ancient Irish annals and manuscripts dating back to the 12th century. One notable example is the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, which mentions individuals bearing the name Farran during the 13th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Farran name was prevalent in various regions of Ireland, particularly in counties such as Wicklow, Sligo, and Roscommon. Some historical records from this period indicate that the name was also spelled as Faran, Ferran, or Farren, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and orthography common at the time.

The Farran surname gained further prominence during the 17th century, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was John Farran (1605-1680), an Irish priest and theologian who served as the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. Another prominent Farran was Robert Farran (1635-1722), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a member of the Irish Parliament.

In the 18th century, the Farran name continued to be associated with landowners and individuals of influence in Ireland. One noteworthy individual was Thomas Farran (1718-1789), an Irish politician and landowner who represented County Wicklow in the Irish Parliament.

As the centuries progressed, the Farran surname spread beyond Ireland, with individuals bearing the name migrating to various parts of the world. One notable figure was John Farran (1819-1891), an English-born Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Premier of Western Australia from 1890 to 1891.

Another significant individual with the Farran surname was Roy Farran (1886-1949), a British explorer and Antarctic adventurer. He participated in several expeditions to the Antarctic region in the early 20th century and made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of the continent.

In more recent times, the Farran surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions. One notable example is Maeve Farran (born 1957), an Irish film director and screenwriter known for her work in both television and cinema.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farran 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. Lancashire leads with 91 Farrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 91 3.61x
Middlesex 25 1.18x
Essex 13 3.10x
Surrey 11 1.06x
Warwickshire 9 1.68x
Cheshire 8 1.70x
Cornwall 8 3.32x
Yorkshire 8 0.38x
Renfrewshire 7 4.25x
Hertfordshire 6 4.09x
Midlothian 6 2.11x
Hampshire 5 1.15x
Oxfordshire 5 3.81x
Cumberland 3 1.64x
Durham 3 0.47x
Staffordshire 3 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.48x
Kent 2 0.28x
Northamptonshire 2 1.00x
Dorset 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 24 Farrans recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.11x.

Place Total Index
Over Darwen 24 119.11x
Blackburn 10 14.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 24.94x
Colchester St Giles 9 216.87x
Livesey 9 203.16x
Mevagissey 8 500.00x
Aston 7 4.74x
Port Glasgow 7 87.83x
Preston 7 10.37x
Witton 7 220.82x
Edinburgh St Stephens 6 106.95x
Lambeth 6 3.24x
North Mimms 6 652.17x
Bow London 5 18.47x
Caversham 5 190.11x
Chester St John Baptist 5 59.24x
Hampstead London 5 15.10x
Hulme 5 9.49x
Liss 5 561.80x
St Pancras London 5 2.92x
Little Bolton 4 12.33x
St George Martyr London 4 92.81x
Westhoughton 4 59.44x
Wimbledon 4 34.39x
Doncaster 3 19.48x
Dukinfield 3 13.83x
Escomb 3 103.09x
Great Bolton 3 8.98x
Pilkington 3 31.32x
Stock 3 666.67x
Bentley Cum Arksey 2 181.82x
Brightside Bierlow 2 4.84x
Islington London 2 0.97x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 15.75x
Peterborough 2 13.81x
Stretford 2 14.41x
Wisbech St Peter 2 29.63x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.91x
Burton Upon Trent 1 5.96x
Caldewgate 1 9.97x
Chipping Ongar 1 138.89x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 6.25x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 17.36x
Foleshill 1 17.73x
Godalming 1 15.34x
Halsall 1 100.00x
Handsworth 1 17.95x
Irton With Santon 1 222.22x
Kensington London 1 0.85x
Littlebredy 1 714.29x
Lowside Quarter 1 434.78x
Rusholme 1 14.86x
St Luke London 1 2.93x
St Martin Pomroy London 1 2000.00x
St Marylebone London 1 0.88x
Woolwich 1 3.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 9
Elizabeth 7
Alice 4
Margaret 4
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Lousia 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
A.F. 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Cathe. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
H.Ann 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Mrs. 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Rachael 1
Rosetta 1
Susan 1
T. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
James 14
William 8
Robert 7
George 6
Samuel 6
Thomas 5
Aaron 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Joshua 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Richard 2
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Barnard 1
Chaigneen 1
Charlie 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
F.H.Or 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Josheph 1
Lenard 1
Moses 1
Pat. 1
Richd. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Farran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 222 people were recorded with the Farran surname. That placed it at #12,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016. That gives Farran a modern rank of #16,393.

What does the Farran surname mean?

An Irish surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an old Gaelic personal name.

What does the Farran map show?

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