UK surname
A surname derived from a place name derived from the Old English words "feorr" meaning "far" and "eg" meaning "island".
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Farrey surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport and Wymondley, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrey is 141 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 146.7%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1861
141 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farrey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farrey 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 141 | #16,072 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 62 | #27,252 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 77 | #30,289 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 70 | #31,180 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 70 | #31,486 |
| 2004 | modern | 78 | #30,919 |
| 2005 | modern | 80 | #30,842 |
| 2006 | modern | 77 | #31,510 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 81 | #31,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 80 | #32,277 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 73 | #33,587 |
| 2015 | modern | 74 | #33,487 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stockport, Wymondley, Great, North Meols and Durham St Oswald. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Wymondley, Great | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | North Meols | Lancashire |
| 5 | Durham St Oswald | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farrey 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 Farrey, 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 Farrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farrey 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, Farrey 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 Farrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farrey is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire in the north of England during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "feor" meaning "far" and "ieg" meaning "island," suggesting that it may have been a locational name given to someone who lived on a remote island or a distant place.
Farrey is a variant spelling of the more common surname Farrer, which is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Farrer" in the records, referring to individuals living in various parts of Yorkshire.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Farrey spelling can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a certain John Farrey is mentioned as a resident of the village of Thornton.
In the 16th century, the name Farrey was associated with the village of Fewston in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The village was originally known as "Fereswic" or "Feresewic," which means "the remote dwelling place," further reinforcing the connection between the name and its locational origins.
Notable individuals who bore the surname Farrey throughout history include:
1. Sir John Farrey (c. 1530-1599), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. William Farrey (1602-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stokesley in Yorkshire.
3. Elizabeth Farrey (1673-1744), a prominent figure in the early Quaker movement and a writer of religious tracts.
4. Thomas Farrey (1718-1802), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and was captured at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
5. Henry Farrey (1843-1912), a British architect and civil engineer known for his work on several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.
While the Farrey surname is not as common as its variant Farrer, it has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, particularly in the northern counties of England, where it originated and evolved from its locational roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrey 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. Durham leads with 9 Farreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 9 | 10.34x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 15.29x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.73x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.04x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 13.21x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.00x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.34x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 3.64x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eckington in Derbyshire leads with 7 Farreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 630.63x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Eckington | 7 | 630.63x |
| Preston | 5 | 53.88x |
| Esh | 3 | 476.19x |
| Norton In Malton | 3 | 857.14x |
| Witton Gilbert | 3 | 882.35x |
| Eaton Socon | 2 | 833.33x |
| Sunderland | 2 | 129.87x |
| Benfieldside | 1 | 175.44x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 18.80x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 36.36x |
| Stowe Nine Churches | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Westby With Plumpton | 1 | 2000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farrey 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 Farrey 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 Farrey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Canal Lab Inland N L | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Driver Of Horse At Colliery | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Machine Tenter (Ctn) | 1 |
| Rivetter (Artz) | 1 |
| Ship Keeper (Harbor) | 1 |
| Signal Inspector ((Or)) | 1 |
| Signal Inspector Wife | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Farrey surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Farrey a modern rank of #33,441.
A surname derived from a place name derived from the Old English words "feorr" meaning "far" and "eg" meaning "island".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farrey 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.