NameCensus.

UK surname

Farrow

One who comes from a place where pigs are kept, or a hog dealer or seller.

In the 1881 census there were 5,625 people recorded with the Farrow surname, ranking it #787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,219, ranked #923, down from #787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farrow is 7,764 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.3%.

1881 census count

5,625

Ranked #787

Modern count

7,219

2016, ranked #923

Peak year

1911

7,764 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Farrow had 5,625 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,219 in 2016, ranked #923.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,764 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Farrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Farrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Farrow 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 3,540 #800
1861 historical 3,084 #940
1881 historical 5,625 #787
1891 historical 5,991 #781
1901 historical 7,059 #781
1911 historical 7,764 #670
1997 modern 7,209 #896
1998 modern 7,443 #904
1999 modern 7,516 #904
2000 modern 7,448 #905
2001 modern 7,342 #897
2002 modern 7,515 #894
2003 modern 7,287 #903
2004 modern 7,285 #900
2005 modern 7,168 #900
2006 modern 7,141 #908
2007 modern 7,151 #915
2008 modern 7,200 #915
2009 modern 7,362 #915
2010 modern 7,485 #918
2011 modern 7,377 #918
2012 modern 7,167 #923
2013 modern 7,359 #914
2014 modern 7,328 #926
2015 modern 7,240 #927
2016 modern 7,219 #923

Geography

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Where Farrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk and South Norfolk. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
3 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
4 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
5 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Farrow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Farrow

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

Farrow is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Farrow falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Farrow

The surname Farrow is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fearra," meaning "bull" or "ox." This suggests that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who worked with these animals or possessed characteristics associated with them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farrow can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Farrewe." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Farreu," "Farrowe," and "Farrouwe." These variations reflect the different spellings and pronunciations that were common during that time period.

The surname Farrow is also associated with several place names in England, such as Farrow in Derbyshire and Farrow Field in Worcestershire. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as people often adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable individual bearing the surname Farrow was Samuel Farrow (1641-1719), an English nonconformist minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Serious Call to Repentance" and "The Doctrine of Justification."

Another prominent figure was John Farrow (1594-1670), an English Puritan clergyman and theologian, who served as the rector of Geddington in Northamptonshire and wrote several theological treatises.

In the 18th century, Thomas Farrow (1712-1788) was a notable English painter and engraver, known for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes.

Moving into the 19th century, John Farrow (1804-1884) was a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several Arctic expeditions.

Lastly, Mia Farrow (born 1945) is a renowned American actress and activist, known for her roles in films such as "Rosemary's Baby" and her humanitarian work. While not directly related to the surname's historical origins, her fame has undoubtedly contributed to the recognition of the Farrow name in modern times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Farrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farrow 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. Norfolk leads with 779 Farrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.24x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 779 9.24x
Lancashire 746 1.15x
Suffolk 699 10.47x
Middlesex 629 1.15x
Yorkshire 465 0.86x
Essex 416 3.84x
Lincolnshire 294 3.35x
Surrey 271 1.01x
Durham 253 1.55x
Kent 111 0.59x
Hampshire 100 0.89x
Cambridgeshire 87 2.51x
Hertfordshire 65 1.72x
Northamptonshire 63 1.22x
Sussex 60 0.65x
Bedfordshire 53 1.87x
Somerset 52 0.59x
Derbyshire 48 0.56x
Leicestershire 43 0.71x
Northumberland 42 0.51x
Gloucestershire 41 0.38x
Dumfriesshire 34 2.81x
Nottinghamshire 27 0.37x
Staffordshire 24 0.13x
Warwickshire 17 0.12x
Cheshire 16 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 16 0.92x
Monmouthshire 15 0.38x
Berkshire 12 0.29x
Cumberland 11 0.23x
Angus 10 0.20x
Devon 10 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 10 0.92x
Wiltshire 10 0.21x
Glamorgan 9 0.09x
Stirlingshire 9 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.24x
Cornwall 7 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 7 0.48x
Westmorland 6 0.50x
Worcestershire 6 0.08x
Brecknockshire 5 0.46x
Fife 5 0.15x
Oxfordshire 5 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.08x
Flintshire 3 0.20x
Morayshire 3 0.35x
Royal Navy 3 0.46x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.09x
Anglesey 1 0.10x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Berwickshire 1 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Midlothian 1 0.01x
Perthshire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 105 Farrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.00x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 105 5.00x
Spotland 99 13.69x
Islington London 71 1.34x
West Ham 70 2.93x
Mile End Old Town London 54 4.63x
Lambeth 52 1.09x
Bethnal Green London 48 2.02x
Heigham 48 10.61x
Kensington London 48 1.57x
Holy Trinity 47 3.60x
Bishopwearmouth 45 3.21x
Claxton 45 1142.13x
Manchester 45 1.54x
Castleton 43 6.62x
Ipswich St Mathew 41 21.91x
Crowfield 40 598.80x
Hackney London 40 1.30x
Shillington 39 93.28x
Camberwell 35 1.00x
Bury 32 4.31x
Royton 32 16.08x
Bermondsey 31 1.90x
Elmswell 31 217.09x
Sheringham 31 142.66x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 30 23.94x
Stapleford Abbots 30 325.03x
East Dereham 29 27.23x
Wardleworth 29 7.80x
Heap 28 8.12x
Chelsea London 27 1.63x
Great Yarmouth 27 3.87x
Stowmarket 26 33.69x
Great Bolton 25 2.90x
North Walsham 25 41.13x
Ipswich St Margaret 24 10.59x
Rosedale East Side 24 325.20x
St Andrewthe Less 24 6.05x
St Marylebone London 24 0.82x
Barking 22 6.95x
Brandon 22 48.57x
Finningham 22 279.19x
Guist 22 298.91x
Lawshall 22 146.76x
Walthamstow 22 5.65x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 21 2.07x
Gainsborough 21 10.16x
Paddington London 21 1.04x
Ashton Under Lyne 20 1.41x
Beccles 20 18.61x
Shoreditch London 20 0.84x
Westoe 20 2.16x
Croydon 19 1.28x
Dagenham 19 29.50x
Pendleton In Salford 19 2.45x
Romford 19 11.11x
Hunslet 18 2.12x
Little Bolton 18 2.15x
Rotherhithe 18 2.66x
St George Hanover Square 18 1.86x
St Pancras London 18 0.41x
Twywell 18 191.49x
Wetheringsett Cum 18 92.78x
Crompton 17 9.18x
Deptford St Paul 17 1.18x
Hulme 17 1.25x
Lakenham 17 14.20x
Litchurch 17 4.92x
North South Killingholme 17 117.08x
Stebbing 17 81.11x
Bintree 16 186.26x
Butterworth 16 10.09x
East Beckham 16 1553.40x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 16 182.65x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 16 6.32x
Kingston On Thames 16 2.49x
Sculcoates 16 1.86x
Tynemouth 16 3.66x
Whaplode Drove 16 108.33x
Rainham 15 63.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 1.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 338
Sarah 207
Elizabeth 206
Jane 114
Ann 101
Alice 94
Emma 90
Eliza 89
Ellen 79
Hannah 73
Emily 61
Martha 50
Annie 49
Margaret 45
Charlotte 40
Harriet 40
Florence 37
Edith 36
Maria 34
Harriett 31
Ada 30
Sophia 27
Fanny 26
Lucy 25
Susan 25
Kate 24
Louisa 24
Amelia 23
Clara 22
Catherine 21
Rose 21
Caroline 19
Frances 18
Laura 18
Anne 16
Isabella 15
Matilda 15
Selina 14
Susanna 14
Minnie 13
Rebecca 13
Esther 12
Jessie 12
Susannah 12
Bessie 11
Betsy 11
Ethel 11
Agnes 10
Elizth. 10
Lizzie 10

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 341
John 310
George 215
James 205
Thomas 177
Robert 111
Charles 108
Henry 93
Joseph 88
Alfred 69
Edward 68
Arthur 64
Samuel 59
Albert 49
Walter 47
Frederick 42
Harry 37
Benjamin 31
David 30
Herbert 30
Richard 28
Francis 22
Frank 21
Ernest 20
Edmund 16
Fred 14
Fredrick 12
Edwin 11
Isaac 11
Jonathan 11
Wm. 11
Edgar 8
Elijah 8
Chas. 7
Geo. 7
Jas. 7
Stephen 7
Abraham 6
Frederic 6
Horace 6
Alexander 5
Earnest 5
Enoch 5
Fred. 5
Fredk. 5
Martin 5
Thos. 5
Ambrose 4
Mark 4
Reuben 4

FAQ

Farrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Farrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,625 people were recorded with the Farrow surname. That placed it at #787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Farrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,219 in 2016. That gives Farrow a modern rank of #923.

What does the Farrow surname mean?

One who comes from a place where pigs are kept, or a hog dealer or seller.

What does the Farrow map show?

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