UK surname
A toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "feor" (far) and "wic" (dwelling).
In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Farwick surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #34,027 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Topcliffe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Farwick is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.
1881 census count
1
Ranked #34,027
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
131 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Farwick surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Farwick surname density by area, 1861 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | historical | 131 | #17,052 |
| 1881 | historical | 1 | #34,027 |
| 1891 | historical | 76 | #27,290 |
| 1901 | historical | 6 | #33,591 |
| 1911 | historical | 2 | #34,020 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 2 | #38,793 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Topcliffe, St Leonard Bromley and Almondbury. 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 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Topcliffe | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Farwick 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 Farwick, 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 Farwick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Farwick 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, Farwick 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 Farwick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Farwick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Farwick is believed to have originated in the region of Yorkshire, England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "wic" meaning a dwelling or village, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a village near a fern-covered area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farwick can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that people bearing this surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
In the 13th century, a Thomas de Farnwick is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer. This indicates that the name was established in the region by that time.
During the 14th century, a variant spelling "Fernwike" appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, which were tax records. This likely reflects the evolution of the name's pronunciation and spelling over time.
One notable individual with the surname Farwick was Sir John Farwick (1580-1647), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon during the reign of King Charles I.
Another individual of note was William Farwick (1690-1758), a British architect who designed several churches and other buildings in the Georgian style in and around London.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure was Thomas Farwick (1812-1884), a British industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Farwick Textile Mills in Manchester and established several charitable institutions in the city.
The surname Farwick has also been associated with certain place names in Yorkshire, such as the village of Farnwick and the Farnwick Estate, which may have influenced the development of the name over time.
While not as common as some other English surnames, the name Farwick has persisted through the centuries and can be traced back to its origins in the medieval period, reflecting the rich history and linguistic influences that have shaped the English language and its surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Farwick 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. Derbyshire leads with 1 Farwicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 1 | 66.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Werburgh in Derbyshire leads with 1 Farwicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derby St Werburgh | 1 | 1111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Farwick surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 1 |
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 Farwick households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Farwick surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Farwick a modern rank of #38,825.
A toponymic surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "feor" (far) and "wic" (dwelling).
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Farwick 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.