NameCensus.

UK surname

Farrar

An occupational surname referring to a smith or worker of iron, derived from the Old French ferreor.

In the 1881 census there were 3,992 people recorded with the Farrar surname, ranking it #1,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,782, ranked #1,783, down from #1,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Batley and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrar is 4,858 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.3%.

1881 census count

3,992

Ranked #1,137

Modern count

3,782

2016, ranked #1,783

Peak year

1911

4,858 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farrar had 3,992 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,782 in 2016, ranked #1,783.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,858 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Farrar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farrar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farrar 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 2,116 #1,378
1861 historical 1,956 #1,492
1881 historical 3,992 #1,137
1891 historical 3,820 #1,259
1901 historical 4,464 #1,273
1911 historical 4,858 #1,071
1997 modern 3,999 #1,623
1998 modern 4,065 #1,658
1999 modern 4,070 #1,666
2000 modern 4,038 #1,676
2001 modern 3,960 #1,674
2002 modern 4,005 #1,687
2003 modern 3,888 #1,705
2004 modern 3,870 #1,715
2005 modern 3,788 #1,724
2006 modern 3,817 #1,716
2007 modern 3,811 #1,731
2008 modern 3,852 #1,727
2009 modern 3,976 #1,708
2010 modern 4,025 #1,721
2011 modern 3,927 #1,742
2012 modern 3,896 #1,728
2013 modern 3,924 #1,746
2014 modern 3,921 #1,753
2015 modern 3,871 #1,754
2016 modern 3,782 #1,783

Geography

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Where Farrars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Batley, Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 008 Wakefield
2 Calderdale 018 Calderdale
3 Calderdale 019 Calderdale
4 Wakefield 016 Wakefield
5 Kirklees 003 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farrar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farrar

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Farrar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Farrar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Farrar 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

Farrar is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farrar 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 Farrar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Farrar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Farrar

The surname Farrar originated in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old French word "ferrour," meaning "iron worker" or "blacksmith." This points to the name's connection with the metalworking trade, likely referring to an ancestor who worked as a blacksmith or farrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ferrar." This valuable historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides insights into the distribution of surnames across England during that time period.

As the name evolved, various spellings emerged, such as Ferrer, Ferror, and Farrer, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. The spelling "Farrar" became more prevalent in later centuries, particularly in certain regions of England.

Notable individuals with the Farrar surname include John Farrar, a 16th-century English Protestant reformer and martyr, who was burned at the stake in 1555 during the Marian Persecutions. Another notable figure was Reverend John Farrar (1592-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of St. Giles' Church in Cripplegate, London.

In the 18th century, Samuel Farrar (1741-1795) was a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War. He achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Bath.

Moving into the 19th century, Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903) was an English clergyman, author, and renowned educator. He served as the Headmaster of Marlborough College and later became the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. His literary works, including the influential book "Life of Christ," earned him widespread acclaim.

Another notable figure was Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967), an American operatic soprano who achieved international fame during the early 20th century. She performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and became one of the first opera singers to achieve widespread popularity through recordings and motion pictures.

The Farrar surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Farrar's Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Farrar's Point in New York, United States, reflecting the geographical spread of individuals bearing this name over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farrar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrar 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,687 Farrars recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.96x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,687 6.96x
Lancashire 678 1.47x
Middlesex 123 0.32x
Durham 67 0.58x
Cheshire 52 0.60x
Northamptonshire 52 1.42x
Surrey 46 0.24x
Bedfordshire 38 1.88x
Leicestershire 33 0.76x
Kent 30 0.23x
Essex 22 0.29x
Staffordshire 22 0.17x
Cumberland 18 0.54x
Northumberland 14 0.24x
Westmorland 14 1.64x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.25x
Gloucestershire 11 0.14x
Norfolk 10 0.17x
Shropshire 8 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.30x
Hampshire 7 0.09x
Lincolnshire 6 0.10x
Isle of Man 4 0.55x
Berkshire 3 0.10x
Derbyshire 3 0.05x
Sussex 3 0.05x
Warwickshire 3 0.03x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.08x
Channel Islands 2 0.17x
Devon 2 0.02x
Merionethshire 2 0.28x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.31x
Glamorgan 1 0.01x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 195 Farrars recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.95x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 195 8.95x
Halifax 186 32.83x
Batley 135 36.81x
Bradford 124 13.27x
Elland Cum Greetland 96 55.22x
Northowram 82 30.31x
Bramley In Bramley 81 54.83x
Hunslet 69 11.47x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 67 37.37x
Sowerby In Halifax 65 51.51x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 62 44.24x
Salford 60 4.41x
Skircoat 60 39.43x
Oldham 59 3.96x
Southowram 48 40.75x
Hulme 45 4.66x
Hipperholme Cum 44 25.95x
Wyke In Bradford 44 63.76x
Ovenden 42 24.46x
Soyland 42 90.73x
Todmorden Walsden 41 33.12x
Wortley In Bramley 41 13.41x
Calverley Cum Farsley 40 36.51x
Horton In Bradford 39 6.47x
Manningham 37 7.78x
Pudsey 36 17.45x
Warley 36 32.28x
Keighley 35 8.51x
Bowling 34 8.90x
Pilkington 31 17.66x
Rastrick 31 28.92x
Langfield 28 41.47x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 28 20.31x
Bury 26 4.93x
Shelf 26 70.54x
Wadsworth 26 41.39x
Manchester 24 1.15x
Castleton 23 4.98x
Cleckheaton 22 15.48x
Leicester St Margaret 22 2.09x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 22 46.78x
Gomersal 21 11.66x
Holbeck 21 8.21x
Kettering 21 14.17x
Shipley 21 10.49x
Macclesfield 20 5.23x
Riseley 20 156.62x
Soothill 20 14.35x
St Pancras London 20 0.64x
Thornton In Bradford 20 15.57x
Wardleworth 20 7.57x
Midgley 19 46.21x
Broughton In Salford 18 4.26x
Dukinfield 18 4.53x
Kippax 18 53.03x
Newchurch 18 4.76x
Wakefield 18 6.08x
Headingley Cum Burley 17 6.84x
Huddersfield 17 3.02x
Habergham Eaves 16 3.79x
Billinge Chapel End 15 57.85x
Bingley 15 6.10x
Crigglestone 15 40.37x
Lambeth 15 0.44x
Mile End Old Town London 15 1.81x
Beeston 14 35.87x
Blackburn 14 1.14x
Chapel Allerton 14 24.24x
Liverpool 14 0.50x
Sheriff Hutton W 14 127.97x
Spotland 14 2.73x
Tanfield 14 10.16x
Clayton 13 13.77x
Deptford St Paul 13 1.27x
Hackney London 13 0.60x
Mirfield 13 6.14x
Toxteth Park 13 0.83x
Windle 13 5.00x
Gateshead 12 1.38x
West Ham 12 0.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 310
Sarah 206
Elizabeth 141
Ann 101
Hannah 93
Emma 75
Martha 70
Jane 65
Annie 59
Eliza 51
Ellen 51
Emily 48
Alice 46
Ada 35
Margaret 35
Edith 34
Harriet 31
Clara 26
Frances 18
Louisa 17
Maria 17
Charlotte 16
Grace 16
Florence 15
Betty 14
Fanny 13
Lucy 13
Rachel 13
Ruth 13
Rebecca 12
Susannah 12
Caroline 11
Catherine 11
Agnes 10
Selina 10
Minnie 9
Amelia 8
Amy 8
Betsy 8
Kate 8
Lydia 8
Anne 7
Esther 7
Henrietta 7
Lilly 7
Susan 7
Harriett 6
Nancy 6
Phoebe 6
Isabella 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 268
William 175
James 153
George 103
Joseph 97
Thomas 89
Charles 57
Henry 51
Samuel 42
Arthur 41
Walter 32
Edward 27
David 26
Richard 26
Alfred 25
Harry 25
Herbert 24
Robert 24
Albert 22
Benjamin 21
Fred 20
Frederick 19
Frank 18
Edwin 16
Wm. 15
Ernest 14
Joshua 14
Sam 14
Tom 14
Abraham 12
Joe 11
Willie 11
Geo. 10
Edmund 9
Squire 9
Isaac 7
Jacob 7
Lewis 7
Ben 6
Francis 6
Ralph 6
Thos. 6
Andrew 5
Fredrick 5
Jonas 5
Levi 5
Mark 5
Matthew 5
Nathan 5
Simeon 5

FAQ

Farrar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farrar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,992 people were recorded with the Farrar surname. That placed it at #1,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farrar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,782 in 2016. That gives Farrar a modern rank of #1,783.

What does the Farrar surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a smith or worker of iron, derived from the Old French ferreor.

What does the Farrar map show?

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