NameCensus.

UK surname

Farrant

A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "ferrant" meaning iron-worker or blacksmith.

In the 1881 census there were 1,761 people recorded with the Farrant surname, ranking it #2,456 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,254, ranked #2,881, down from #2,456 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting and Budleigh, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Edmundsbury, New Forest and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrant is 2,512 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.0%.

1881 census count

1,761

Ranked #2,456

Modern count

2,254

2016, ranked #2,881

Peak year

1911

2,512 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farrant had 1,761 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,456 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,254 in 2016, ranked #2,881.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,512 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farrant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farrant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farrant 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 1,192 #2,385
1861 historical 1,127 #2,488
1881 historical 1,761 #2,456
1891 historical 1,956 #2,361
1901 historical 2,289 #2,376
1911 historical 2,512 #2,043
1997 modern 2,350 #2,655
1998 modern 2,440 #2,664
1999 modern 2,435 #2,694
2000 modern 2,444 #2,673
2001 modern 2,389 #2,674
2002 modern 2,394 #2,719
2003 modern 2,343 #2,711
2004 modern 2,326 #2,727
2005 modern 2,237 #2,789
2006 modern 2,203 #2,836
2007 modern 2,220 #2,840
2008 modern 2,221 #2,861
2009 modern 2,266 #2,873
2010 modern 2,287 #2,912
2011 modern 2,294 #2,862
2012 modern 2,240 #2,880
2013 modern 2,288 #2,870
2014 modern 2,293 #2,877
2015 modern 2,283 #2,853
2016 modern 2,254 #2,881

Geography

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Where Farrants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting, Budleigh, East and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Edmundsbury, New Forest and Mid Devon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Haverhill, Little Wratting Suffolk
4 Budleigh, East Devon
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Edmundsbury 012 St Edmundsbury
2 St Edmundsbury 014 St Edmundsbury
3 St Edmundsbury 013 St Edmundsbury
4 New Forest 001 New Forest
5 Mid Devon 007 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farrant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farrant

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

Farrant is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farrant falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Farrant 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 Farrant, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Farrant

The surname Farrant is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old French word "ferrant," meaning "blacksmith" or "iron worker." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or in related trades involving metalwork.

The earliest recorded instances of the Farrant surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Hampshire. Some of the earliest documented spellings include Feraunt, Ferrant, and Farant, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time.

In the 14th century, there are references to individuals bearing the Farrant surname in historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. These records provide valuable insights into the lives and occupations of people with this surname during that period.

One notable figure from history who bore the Farrant surname was Richard Farrant (c. 1530-1580), an English composer and master of the choristers at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He was renowned for his contributions to sacred music and is considered one of the most important composers of the English Renaissance period.

Another notable individual was John Farrant (1582-1659), an English churchman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1642 to 1659. He played a significant role in the college's administration during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the Farrant surname was also associated with several place names, such as Farrant's Barn in Hampshire and Farrant's Court in Berkshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Farrant surname who owned or resided in those locations.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Farrant surname continued to be present in various parts of England, with notable individuals such as Thomas Farrant (1771-1851), an English landscape painter known for his rural scenes, and Richard Farrant (1835-1918), a British engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early steam turbines.

Throughout its history, the Farrant surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, academics, clergy, artists, and inventors. While its origins may be rooted in the occupation of blacksmithing, the surname has evolved and spread across different regions of England, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farrant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrant 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. Devon leads with 326 Farrants recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.04x.

County Total Index
Devon 326 9.04x
Middlesex 265 1.53x
Surrey 196 2.32x
Sussex 178 6.10x
Suffolk 166 7.87x
Kent 126 2.13x
Somerset 84 3.01x
Essex 71 2.08x
Gloucestershire 50 1.47x
Lancashire 26 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 25 2.28x
Yorkshire 24 0.14x
Isle of Man 23 7.15x
Norfolk 22 0.83x
Glamorgan 19 0.63x
Oxfordshire 19 1.78x
Worcestershire 18 0.80x
Hampshire 15 0.42x
Dorset 13 1.14x
Wiltshire 12 0.78x
Berkshire 9 0.69x
Leicestershire 9 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.76x
Cheshire 8 0.21x
Monmouthshire 8 0.64x
Bedfordshire 7 0.78x
Durham 7 0.14x
Lanarkshire 7 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.21x
Cumberland 4 0.27x
Northamptonshire 4 0.25x
Derbyshire 3 0.11x
Hertfordshire 3 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.55x
Shropshire 3 0.20x
Berwickshire 2 0.95x
Flintshire 2 0.43x
Brecknockshire 1 0.29x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.48x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haverhill in Suffolk leads with 141 Farrants recorded in 1881 and an index of 752.40x.

Place Total Index
Haverhill 141 752.40x
Brighton 78 13.24x
East Budleigh 42 247.35x
Hemyock 31 576.21x
Clapham 30 13.86x
Sidmouth 27 130.88x
Lambeth 22 1.46x
Newington 22 3.44x
Limehouse London 21 11.05x
West Ham 21 2.78x
Bethnal Green London 20 2.66x
Islington London 20 1.19x
Sevenoaks 20 41.75x
Branscombe 19 384.62x
Croydon 16 3.42x
Framfield 15 165.75x
Hackney London 15 1.55x
Kensington London 15 1.56x
Otterton 15 258.62x
Littleham 14 53.13x
Widnes 14 9.45x
Brandon 13 90.85x
Sidbury 13 168.39x
Cherry Hinton 12 232.56x
Hampstead London 12 4.45x
Willesden 12 7.35x
Camberwell 11 0.99x
Clerkenwell London 11 2.69x
Cullompton 11 69.89x
Hammersmith London 11 2.58x
Kingston On Thames 11 5.43x
Lewisham 11 3.49x
Salcombe Regis 11 325.44x
Streatham 11 8.56x
Wandsworth 11 6.60x
Brightling 10 250.00x
Chardstock 10 127.06x
Claines 10 16.11x
Clifton 10 5.82x
Ealing 10 6.46x
Gloucester St Owen 10 268.10x
Harefield 10 112.23x
Richmond 10 8.46x
Battersea 9 1.41x
Denton 9 311.42x
East Horndon 9 301.00x
Farway 9 526.32x
Friston 9 1607.14x
Great Wratting 9 387.93x
Greenwich 9 3.27x
Leicester All Sts 9 23.87x
Lezayre 9 62.37x
Poplar London 9 2.75x
Shoreditch London 9 1.20x
Shute 9 262.39x
Southampton St Mary 9 4.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 2.58x
St Marylebone London 9 0.97x
Westminster St John 9 4.27x
Woolwich 9 4.12x
Yeovil 9 15.89x
Chelsea London 8 1.53x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 9.69x
Fugglestone St Peter 8 132.01x
North Petherton 8 35.59x
Sandhurst 8 31.78x
Uckfield 8 62.84x
Birdbrook 7 203.49x
Carluke 7 13.77x
Chard 7 20.73x
Fulham London 7 2.79x
Leyton 7 11.89x
Leyton Low 7 10.07x
Llantrisant 7 9.21x
Malew 7 24.92x
Martock 7 38.63x
Paddington London 7 1.10x
Rottingdean 7 70.14x
Upton Cum Chalvey 7 16.78x
Yarcombe 7 169.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 101
Elizabeth 72
Sarah 52
Emily 34
Eliza 31
Ellen 31
Ann 27
Jane 27
Emma 22
Annie 19
Louisa 19
Maria 18
Alice 17
Edith 17
Caroline 16
Susan 16
Charlotte 13
Hannah 12
Kate 12
Lucy 12
Martha 11
Florence 10
Harriet 10
Rebecca 10
Ada 9
Agnes 8
Amelia 8
Anne 8
Frances 8
Margaret 8
Lydia 7
Rose 7
Anna 6
Esther 6
Fanny 6
Sophia 6
Ethel 5
Mabel 5
Minnie 5
Rosina 5
Bessie 4
Flora 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Lily 4
Rhoda 4
Susannah 4
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Rosa 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 107
John 93
George 67
Henry 60
James 45
Samuel 38
Thomas 35
Charles 31
Robert 30
Frederick 29
Albert 25
Arthur 19
Harry 19
Walter 18
Edward 17
Alfred 16
Frank 15
Richard 12
Edwin 10
Herbert 9
Ernest 8
Francis 6
Joseph 6
Stephen 6
Fredrick 5
Mark 5
Abraham 4
Ebenezer 4
Geo. 4
Thos. 4
David 3
Fred 3
Nathaniel 3
Percy 3
Reginald 3
Alexander 2
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Frances 2
Jethro 2
Luther 2
Richd. 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Silas 2
Tom 2
Wallace 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Farrant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farrant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,761 people were recorded with the Farrant surname. That placed it at #2,456 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farrant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,254 in 2016. That gives Farrant a modern rank of #2,881.

What does the Farrant surname mean?

A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French word "ferrant" meaning iron-worker or blacksmith.

What does the Farrant map show?

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