NameCensus.

UK surname

Ferrell

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Fearghail," meaning "descendant of Fearghal" (a personal name meaning "brave valour").

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Ferrell surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 253, ranked #16,671, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Newlyn and Woodhorn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Doncaster and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferrell is 277 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

253

2016, ranked #16,671

Peak year

2010

277 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ferrell had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016, ranked #16,671.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Ferrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ferrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ferrell 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 163 #12,156
1861 historical 129 #17,271
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 269 #12,060
1901 historical 254 #13,005
1911 historical 213 #14,379
1997 modern 258 #14,949
1998 modern 274 #14,759
1999 modern 256 #15,557
2000 modern 253 #15,623
2001 modern 247 #15,637
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 255 #15,416
2004 modern 247 #15,821
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 249 #15,784
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 270 #15,551
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 276 #15,471
2012 modern 245 #16,745
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 269 #16,059
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 253 #16,671

Geography

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Where Ferrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Newlyn, Woodhorn, Gateshead and Havant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Doncaster, Gateshead and Neath Port Talbot. 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 Minster Kent
2 Newlyn Cornwall
3 Woodhorn Northumberland
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Havant Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Doncaster 031 Doncaster
3 Gateshead 010 Gateshead
4 Neath Port Talbot 019 Neath Port Talbot
5 Gateshead 008 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ferrell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ferrell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Ferrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ferrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ferrell 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

Ferrell is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ferrell falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ferrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ferrell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ferrell

The surname Ferrell has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "ferreor," which means "ironworker" or "blacksmith." This occupational surname likely originated from a person whose profession involved working with iron or metalsmithing.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Ferrell can be traced back to the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1198, where it appeared as "Farellus." This medieval document recorded the names of individuals who paid taxes to the English Crown. The spelling variations during this period included Farrell, Ferrill, Ferryll, and Ferrell.

In the 13th century, the name Ferrell appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a collection of records from the Hundred Courts. This document listed individuals named Ferrellus and Ferellus de Tylney, indicating that some Ferrells were associated with the village of Tilney in Norfolk.

During the 14th century, the surname Ferrell was found in various historical records, such as the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was recorded as "Ferylle." This document recorded the names of individuals who paid a tax to the English Crown.

One notable figure bearing the surname Ferrell was John Ferrell, a merchant from Bristol, England, who lived in the late 16th century. He was a prominent member of the Society of Merchant Venturers, a influential trading organization in Bristol.

Another notable individual was William Ferrell, born in 1579 in Lincolnshire, England. He served as a Member of Parliament for Grantham in 1628 and played a role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 17th century, the name Ferrell was also found in the records of the Virginia Company, which oversaw the establishment of the Virginia Colony in North America. One such record from 1623 mentioned a Thomas Ferrell who was among the early settlers in the colony.

Another notable figure was John Ferrell, born in 1692 in County Down, Ireland. He was a prominent Presbyterian minister who emigrated to America in the early 18th century and played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania.

In the 19th century, Joseph Ferrell, born in 1815 in Ohio, United States, was a prominent abolitionist and activist who fought against slavery. He was actively involved in the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved individuals escape to freedom.

These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the surname Ferrell throughout history, illustrating the name's English origins and its presence in various historical records and contexts over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ferrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferrell 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. Kent leads with 43 Ferrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.22x.

County Total Index
Kent 43 7.22x
Cornwall 24 12.14x
Middlesex 23 1.32x
Northumberland 17 6.54x
Durham 11 2.12x
Hampshire 8 2.24x
Lancashire 8 0.39x
Sussex 7 2.38x
Yorkshire 6 0.35x
Cheshire 5 1.30x
Lanarkshire 5 0.89x
Devon 4 1.10x
Surrey 4 0.47x
Warwickshire 3 0.68x
Dumfriesshire 2 5.19x
Gloucestershire 2 0.58x
Royal Navy 2 9.61x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.36x
Cumberland 1 0.67x
Lincolnshire 1 0.36x
Renfrewshire 1 0.74x
Wiltshire 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woolwich in Kent leads with 10 Ferrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.43x.

Place Total Index
Woolwich 10 45.43x
Bedlington 9 103.69x
Teynham 9 841.12x
Islington London 8 4.73x
Newlyn 8 952.38x
Havant 7 386.74x
Tottenham 7 25.17x
Brede 5 806.45x
Canterbury St Mary 5 125.00x
Gateshead 5 12.86x
Gulval 5 393.70x
Holy Trinity 5 12.01x
Macclesfield 5 29.19x
New Monkland 5 29.96x
North Shields 5 96.53x
Kensington London 4 4.12x
Minster In Sheppey 4 40.53x
Perranzabuloe 4 233.92x
Rusholme 4 72.33x
Tunstall 4 154.44x
Falmouth 3 42.86x
Maidstone 3 16.90x
Rochester St Margaret 3 47.77x
St Ives 3 77.52x
West Derby 3 4.95x
Aston 2 1.65x
Camberwell 2 1.79x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 32.21x
Dumfries 2 52.63x
East Stonehouse 2 27.93x
Lynsted 2 259.74x
Milton Abbott 2 377.36x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 14.85x
Royal Navy 2 11.24x
Westbury On Trym 2 17.24x
Betchworth 1 95.24x
Birmingham 1 0.68x
Britford 1 98.04x
Crantock 1 476.19x
Droylsden 1 14.79x
East Malling 1 70.42x
Erith 1 17.04x
Faversham 1 17.61x
Hastings St Andrew 1 95.24x
Hove 1 7.74x
Lambeth 1 0.66x
Lewisham 1 3.15x
Llanelly 1 6.03x
Longbenton 1 9.09x
Manningham 1 4.69x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 46.95x
Paddington London 1 1.56x
Paisley Low Church 1 23.36x
Portsea 1 1.43x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.25x
St Marylebone London 1 1.07x
St Pancras London 1 0.71x
Stranton 1 5.72x
Tonbridge 1 4.65x
Whitehaven 1 12.48x
Wingate 1 28.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Matilda 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Bridget 1
Delia 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emlie 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Phebe 1
Phobe 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 9
James 6
Thomas 6
Henry 5
Samuel 4
David 3
George 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Albert 1
Alfd. 1
Barnard 1
Christopher 1
Fergus 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.H. 1
Henery 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Willm.H. 1

FAQ

Ferrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ferrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Ferrell surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ferrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016. That gives Ferrell a modern rank of #16,671.

What does the Ferrell surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Fearghail," meaning "descendant of Fearghal" (a personal name meaning "brave valour").

What does the Ferrell map show?

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