NameCensus.

UK surname

Farries

A surname of Scottish origin referring to someone living near a ferry crossing.

In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Farries surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 181, ranked #20,955, down from #12,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, St Bees and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westfield, Dalbeattie Rural and Hawick Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farries is 223 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.0%.

1881 census count

199

Ranked #12,880

Modern count

181

2016, ranked #20,955

Peak year

1891

223 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farries had 199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016, ranked #20,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 223 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Farries surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farries surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farries 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 199 #12,880
1891 historical 223 #13,800
1901 historical 169 #16,824
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 167 #19,722
1998 modern 199 #18,177
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 199 #18,278
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 183 #19,251
2005 modern 183 #19,194
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 189 #19,146
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 190 #19,656
2010 modern 198 #19,577
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 181 #20,955

Geography

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Where Farries' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, St Bees, Gateshead, Balmaghie and Dumfries. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westfield, Dalbeattie Rural, Hawick Central, Allerdale 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Balmaghie Kirkcudbright
5 Dumfries Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westfield North Lanarkshire
2 Dalbeattie Rural Dumfries and Galloway
3 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
4 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
5 Copeland 007 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farries

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farries

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Farries surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Farries household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Farries 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

Farries is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farries falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Farries

The surname Farries is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "faireach" meaning "watchman" or "guardian." It is believed to have emerged in the 14th century in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Perthshire and Argyllshire.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1376, when a John Faricius was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Farrie, Farry, Farie, and Fairie, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping during that era.

One notable historical reference to the name can be found in the "Ragman Rolls" of 1296, which recorded the names of Scottish noblemen who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Among them was a Alexander de Faryns, believed to be an early ancestor of the Farries family.

In the 16th century, the Farries clan played a role in the Scottish Reformation, with several members being prominent supporters of the Protestant cause. One such figure was John Farries (1510-1578), a minister and reformer who worked closely with John Knox.

The 17th century saw the Farries family spread across Scotland, with branches establishing themselves in various regions. One notable member was Robert Farries (1638-1701), a renowned scholar and philosopher who taught at the University of Glasgow.

During the 18th century, the Farries name gained prominence in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. One notable figure from this period was Malcolm Farries (1725-1798), a renowned poet and Gaelic scholar who helped preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Highlands.

As the centuries progressed, members of the Farries family continued to make their mark across various fields, including literature, academia, and the arts. One such notable figure was James Farries (1826-1891), a celebrated Scottish painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

Throughout its history, the surname Farries has been closely associated with Scotland's rich cultural heritage, with its bearers playing significant roles in preserving and promoting the country's traditions, language, and identity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farries families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farries 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. Dumfriesshire leads with 33 Farries' recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.53x.

County Total Index
Dumfriesshire 33 78.53x
Cumberland 28 17.10x
Kirkcudbrightshire 24 87.15x
Lanarkshire 19 3.09x
Wigtownshire 16 63.34x
Middlesex 13 0.68x
Northumberland 8 2.83x
Yorkshire 8 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 7 6.09x
Roxburghshire 7 20.32x
Shropshire 7 4.26x
Aberdeenshire 5 2.84x
Durham 5 0.88x
Lancashire 5 0.22x
Perthshire 3 3.51x
Staffordshire 2 0.31x
Surrey 2 0.22x
Cheshire 1 0.24x
Devon 1 0.25x
Midlothian 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 13 Farries' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.35x.

Place Total Index
Barony 13 8.35x
Penninghame 11 426.36x
Balmaghie 10 1666.67x
Alston 9 298.01x
Minnigaff 9 873.79x
Langholm 8 264.90x
Wallsend 8 89.09x
Applegarth 7 1093.75x
Arthuret 7 409.36x
Hawick 7 90.79x
Middlebie 7 555.56x
Dumfries 6 144.93x
Glasgow 6 5.49x
Skipton 6 101.18x
Wellington 6 64.94x
Whitehaven 6 68.73x
Fenny Stratford 5 458.72x
Islington London 5 2.71x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 45.25x
Stoke Newington London 5 33.74x
Stranraer 5 216.45x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 10.88x
Preston 4 6.62x
St Mary Within 4 195.12x
Forteviot 3 731.71x
Hackney London 3 2.81x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 3 312.50x
Cumwhitton 2 606.06x
Irongray 2 392.16x
Lochrutton 2 500.00x
Simpson 2 416.67x
Altofts 1 48.08x
Annan 1 27.70x
Battersea 1 1.43x
Charleton 1 277.78x
Cheadle 1 12.47x
Croydon 1 1.94x
Duddingston 1 19.53x
Gnosall 1 64.52x
Gretna 1 126.58x
Keig 1 196.08x
Liverpool 1 0.73x
Longnor 1 769.23x
Normanton 1 17.67x
Parton 1 212.77x
Wolverhampton 1 2.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Annie 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Gertrude 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Annise 1
Celia 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Rebbacca 1
Sarah 1
Sussanah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Farries surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farries surname in 1881?

In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Farries surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farries surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 181 in 2016. That gives Farries a modern rank of #20,955.

What does the Farries surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin referring to someone living near a ferry crossing.

What does the Farries map show?

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