NameCensus.

UK surname

Farrell

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Fearghail," meaning "descendant of Fearghail" (brave or courageous).

In the 1881 census there were 5,660 people recorded with the Farrell surname, ranking it #779 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,671, ranked #376, up from #779 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Knowsley and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrell is 17,132 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 194.5%.

1881 census count

5,660

Ranked #779

Modern count

16,671

2016, ranked #376

Peak year

2010

17,132 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farrell had 5,660 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #779 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,671 in 2016, ranked #376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,049 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Farrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Farrell 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 1,962 #1,478
1861 historical 2,292 #1,284
1881 historical 5,660 #779
1891 historical 5,696 #827
1901 historical 7,049 #782
1911 historical 6,558 #791
1997 modern 15,307 #398
1998 modern 15,848 #400
1999 modern 16,013 #398
2000 modern 15,960 #396
2001 modern 15,651 #395
2002 modern 16,104 #390
2003 modern 15,689 #388
2004 modern 15,707 #388
2005 modern 15,751 #380
2006 modern 15,799 #379
2007 modern 16,003 #379
2008 modern 16,201 #373
2009 modern 16,710 #371
2010 modern 17,132 #372
2011 modern 16,796 #373
2012 modern 16,432 #374
2013 modern 16,828 #375
2014 modern 16,949 #375
2015 modern 16,772 #376
2016 modern 16,671 #376

Geography

Back to top

Where Farrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Knowsley, Rochdale, Salford and Birmingham. 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 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
2 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
3 Rochdale 025 Rochdale
4 Salford 028 Salford
5 Birmingham 050 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Farrell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Farrell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Farrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Farrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Farrell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farrell 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

Farrell 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 Farrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Farrell

The surname Farrell is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Fearghail" or "Fear Ghal", which means "man of valor" or "man of the bright foreigner". It is an ancient name that can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland.

The name Farrell is believed to have its roots in County Longford, where it was prominent among the O'Farrell clan, a sept of the Ui Briuin dynasty. The O'Farrells were lords of Annaly, a territory that encompassed parts of modern-day Counties Longford, Westmeath, and Cavan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farrell can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention several members of the O'Farrell clan, including Conchobhar O'Farrell, who was slain in a battle in 1187.

In the 14th century, the Farrells were among the prominent Irish families who resisted the Norman invasion and fought to maintain their independence. During this period, the name appears in various records and documents, sometimes with alternative spellings such as O'Ferrall, Ferrell, or Farrell.

Notable historical figures with the surname Farrell include:

1. Ferghal O'Farrell (c. 1265 - c. 1330), an Irish nobleman and lord of Annaly. 2. Sir Thomas Farrell (c. 1560 - 1620), an English soldier and colonist who played a role in the Plantation of Ulster. 3. Nicholas Farrell (1647 - 1718), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who published works on theology and philosophy. 4. Edmond Farrell (1763 - 1835), an Irish-born American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. 5. John Theophilus Farrell (1804 - 1892), an Irish-born Anglican clergyman and author who served as Bishop of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

The surname Farrell has a long and storied history, with roots deeply embedded in the rich cultural tapestry of Ireland. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including noblemen, soldiers, clergy, and writers, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Farrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrell 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 2,062 Farrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,062 3.14x
Middlesex 515 0.93x
Yorkshire 404 0.74x
Lanarkshire 313 1.75x
Durham 299 1.81x
Surrey 202 0.75x
Cheshire 157 1.28x
Warwickshire 149 1.07x
Renfrewshire 133 3.10x
Staffordshire 125 0.67x
Midlothian 115 1.55x
Kent 111 0.59x
Northumberland 108 1.31x
Angus 96 1.87x
Hampshire 74 0.65x
Devon 71 0.62x
Glamorgan 65 0.67x
Cumberland 58 1.22x
Sussex 53 0.57x
Derbyshire 44 0.51x
Gloucestershire 41 0.38x
Ayrshire 34 0.82x
Dorset 28 0.77x
Channel Islands 25 1.52x
Dunbartonshire 25 1.68x
Essex 22 0.20x
Northamptonshire 22 0.42x
Cornwall 20 0.32x
Wiltshire 20 0.41x
Kirkcudbrightshire 19 2.37x
Somerset 18 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.23x
Stirlingshire 15 0.73x
Worcestershire 15 0.21x
Fife 14 0.43x
Suffolk 13 0.19x
West Lothian 11 1.32x
Caernarfonshire 10 0.45x
East Lothian 10 1.36x
Flintshire 10 0.67x
Lincolnshire 10 0.11x
Norfolk 10 0.12x
Aberdeenshire 9 0.18x
Anglesey 9 0.92x
Berkshire 9 0.22x
Leicestershire 9 0.15x
Dumfriesshire 8 0.65x
Monmouthshire 8 0.20x
Hertfordshire 7 0.18x
Kincardineshire 7 1.04x
Shropshire 7 0.15x
Wigtownshire 7 0.95x
Denbighshire 6 0.29x
Perthshire 6 0.24x
Westmorland 6 0.49x
Royal Navy 5 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.09x
Argyllshire 2 0.13x
Bedfordshire 2 0.07x
Isle of Man 2 0.19x
Buteshire 1 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 290 Farrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.81x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 290 9.81x
Liverpool 281 7.04x
Birmingham 105 2.26x
Salford 102 5.28x
Hulme 93 6.78x
West Derby 86 4.47x
Govan 83 1.87x
Everton 81 3.87x
Leeds 81 2.61x
Toxteth Park 76 3.41x
Glasgow 73 2.29x
Barony 68 1.50x
Blackburn 68 3.89x
Camberwell 60 1.70x
Widnes 53 11.18x
Great Bolton 52 5.97x
Dundee 51 2.66x
Birkenhead 50 5.13x
Gateshead 49 3.97x
Bradford 46 3.46x
Kirkdale 45 4.07x
Stoke Damerel 45 5.58x
Bootle Cum Linacre 44 8.43x
East Greenock 44 10.85x
Islington London 44 0.82x
Chorlton On Medlock 43 4.12x
St Pancras London 43 0.96x
Pendleton In Salford 40 5.11x
Warrington 39 5.00x
Liff Benvie 37 4.75x
Lambeth 33 0.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 32 1.07x
Sheffield 32 1.83x
Berwick Upon Tweed 30 17.18x
St Marylebone London 30 1.01x
Aston 29 0.75x
Little Bolton 29 3.43x
Wigan 29 3.16x
Oldham 28 1.32x
Hamilton 27 5.40x
Ashton Under Lyne 25 1.74x
Newton 24 4.74x
Stockton On Tees 24 3.02x
Ardwick 23 3.88x
Broughton In Salford 23 3.83x
Ulverston 23 12.01x
Arlecdon 22 17.34x
Kensington London 22 0.71x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 21 2.94x
Old Monkland 21 2.95x
St George Hanover Square 21 2.15x
St George In East London 21 4.03x
St Giles In Fields London 21 7.73x
Westminster St John 21 3.11x
Brighton 20 1.06x
Manningham 20 2.96x
Preston 20 1.14x
Shoreditch London 20 0.83x
Barton Upon Irwell 19 3.84x
Clerkenwell London 19 1.45x
Minster In Sheppey 19 6.07x
Monkwearmouth Shore 19 5.91x
Plumstead 19 3.02x
St Martin In Fields 19 5.73x
Failsworth 18 11.97x
Neilston 18 8.35x
Walton On Hill 18 5.05x
West Ham 18 0.75x
Windle 18 4.87x
Withington 18 8.50x
Bishopwearmouth 17 1.20x
Elswick 17 2.58x
Levenshulme 17 25.13x
Paddington London 17 0.83x
Alverstoke 16 3.89x
Brightside Bierlow 16 1.49x
Bromley London 16 1.31x
Middlesbrough 16 2.24x
Wolstanton Oldcott 16 23.62x
Battersea 15 0.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 496
Elizabeth 138
Ellen 138
Margaret 136
Ann 114
Catherine 111
Sarah 109
Annie 93
Jane 80
Bridget 72
Eliza 65
Alice 44
Julia 38
Maria 29
Kate 28
Emma 26
Hannah 24
Anne 23
Emily 21
Louisa 21
Martha 16
Agnes 15
Florence 15
Rose 15
Charlotte 14
Harriet 14
Margt. 13
Susan 13
Frances 12
Clara 11
Ada 10
Elizth. 10
Isabella 10
Esther 9
Lizzie 9
Winifred 9
Caroline 8
Catharine 8
Edith 8
Fanny 8
Jessie 8
Sophia 8
Teresa 8
Amelia 7
Harriett 7
Lucy 7
Margret 7
Bertha 6
Johanna 6
Matilda 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 408
James 293
Thomas 237
William 209
Patrick 102
Michael 93
Edward 84
Joseph 84
George 67
Peter 53
Richard 47
Henry 46
Charles 33
Francis 33
Robert 32
Martin 21
Thos. 20
David 19
Alfred 18
Daniel 18
Arthur 17
Bernard 17
Frank 17
Frederick 17
Matthew 15
Samuel 15
Andrew 14
Christopher 14
Wm. 14
Jas. 13
Nicholas 12
Walter 12
Jno. 10
Hugh 9
Albert 8
Alexander 8
Lawrence 8
Ernest 6
Geo. 6
Herbert 6
Mathew 6
Stephen 6
Anthony 5
Denis 5
Dennis 5
Edwin 5
Harry 5
Lewis 5
Luke 5
Timothy 5

FAQ

Farrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,660 people were recorded with the Farrell surname. That placed it at #779 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,671 in 2016. That gives Farrell a modern rank of #376.

What does the Farrell surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Fearghail," meaning "descendant of Fearghail" (brave or courageous).

What does the Farrell map show?

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