NameCensus.

UK surname

Farrin

A variant form of the English surname Farrant, derived from the Old French "ferrant" meaning a person who shoes horses.

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Farrin surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, down from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton and Floore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Hinckley and Bosworth and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrin is 155 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.0%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

1911

155 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farrin had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 155 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farrin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farrin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farrin 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 71 #20,875
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 124 #20,818
1901 historical 128 #19,822
1911 historical 155 #17,485
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 138 #24,614
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 152 #23,516

Geography

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Where Farrins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Floore and Datchworth, Knebworth, Aston, Bennington, Watton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Hinckley and Bosworth, Kensington and Chelsea, Stoke-on-Trent and Dartford. 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 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
4 Floore Northamptonshire
5 Datchworth, Knebworth, Aston, Bennington, Watton Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 009 Southwark
2 Hinckley and Bosworth 004 Hinckley and Bosworth
3 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Stoke-on-Trent 019 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Dartford 013 Dartford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farrin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farrin

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Farrin is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Farrin is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farrin falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Farrin

The surname Farrin is believed to have originated in England, likely in the early medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has evolved beyond recognition over time.

One possible origin of the name Farrin could be from the Old English word "faran," meaning "to travel" or "to journey." This suggests that the surname may have been given to someone who frequently traveled or lived a nomadic lifestyle.

Another theory is that the name Farrin is a variant spelling of the more common surname "Farren," which is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fearn," meaning "fern." This could indicate that the name was originally given to someone who lived near a fern-covered area or worked with ferns in some capacity.

Unfortunately, there are no known records of the surname Farrin appearing in historical documents such as the Domesday Book, which was a survey of landowners in England conducted in 1086. This could be due to the rarity of the name or the fact that it may have evolved from a different spelling over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Farrin can be found in the records of the parish of St. Mary's in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where a William Farrin was listed as a resident in 1598.

Another notable bearer of the surname was John Farrin, a merchant and landowner who was born in 1630 in the village of Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire. He is mentioned in several local records from the mid-17th century.

In the 18th century, a prominent individual with the surname Farrin was Thomas Farrin, who was born in 1712 in the town of Chesham, Buckinghamshire. He was a successful farmer and landowner, and his name appears in various local records and deeds from that period.

During the 19th century, a notable figure with the surname Farrin was James Farrin, a industrialist and businessman who was born in 1825 in the city of Birmingham, England. He founded a successful manufacturing company that produced tools and hardware.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Farrin, who was born in 1860 in the village of Weston Turville, Buckinghamshire. She was a talented artist and painter, and her works were exhibited in several galleries in London during the late 19th century.

While the surname Farrin may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to various regions of England, particularly Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farrin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrin 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. Middlesex leads with 23 Farrins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 23 2.59x
Leicestershire 18 18.29x
Norfolk 13 9.53x
Surrey 6 1.39x
Hampshire 5 2.75x
Northamptonshire 5 5.99x
Durham 4 1.51x
Hertfordshire 4 6.54x
Kent 4 1.32x
Cambridgeshire 3 5.34x
Warwickshire 3 1.34x
Worcestershire 3 2.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Nicholas in Leicestershire leads with 8 Farrins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Nicholas 8 1428.57x
Bermondsey 6 22.71x
Crostwight 6 30000.00x
Kensington London 6 12.16x
Leicester St Margaret 6 25.00x
Tottenham 6 42.43x
Andover 5 290.70x
Floore 5 1612.90x
Stoke Newington London 5 72.36x
Datchworth 4 2105.26x
Deptford St Paul 4 17.12x
Dersingham 4 1290.32x
Washington 4 360.36x
Stoke Prior 3 422.54x
Wisbech St Peter 3 106.38x
Aston 2 3.25x
Barwell 2 384.62x
Islington London 2 2.33x
Sheepshed 2 148.15x
Edmonton 1 13.99x
Fakenham Alethorpe 1 588.24x
Hampstead London 1 7.24x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 24.39x
Rugby 1 33.00x
South Mimms 1 81.97x
Sutton 1 909.09x
Willesden 1 11.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Farrin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farrin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Farrin surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farrin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Farrin a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Farrin surname mean?

A variant form of the English surname Farrant, derived from the Old French "ferrant" meaning a person who shoes horses.

What does the Farrin map show?

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