Surname Farr - Meaning and Origin
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A Pursuit of Ancestry: Discovering the Farr Lineage Through the iGENEA DNA Test
The iGENEA DNA test has been a transformative journey deep into the roots of my ancestral past, specifically into my surname 'Farr'. The process fascinated me in more ways than one as it revealed the origins of the Farr lineage and enabled me to connect with numerous individuals sharing the same name from across the globe.
B. Farr
read moreFarr: What does the surname Farr mean?
The last name "Farr" is of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name is derived from the Middle English term "farr" or the Old English term "fær," both of which mean "to travel" or "journey." Therefore, it is often considered to be an occupational surname for someone who earns a living through travel, such as a peddler, merchant, or pilgrim. Over time, many English and German speaking immigrants adapted the surname "Farr" as they migrated and settled in different parts of the world, including America, Canada and Australia. Despite this dispersion, the core meaning remains the same across its many geographic iterations. Therefore, the last name "Farr" usually signifies individuals or families who have a history of travel, commerce, vast journeys, or exploration.
Order DNA origin analysisFarr: Where does the name Farr come from?
The surname Farr has its origins in Middle England and is presumed to be geographical, deriving from Old English "farr", meaning a bull or a young pig, or from "fearr", specifying a bull. Another explanation is the Old French term "ferre", an occupational name for a blacksmith or metalworker. Initially, it was common among Anglo-Saxon communities.
The Farr surname is relatively uncommon today, but the highest concentrations can be found in Australia, the United States, Canada, England, and New Zealand according to data from forebears.io. The United States has the highest number of people with the Farr surname, while it is the 1,972nd most common surname in England. Its popularity in Australia and New Zealand possibly indicates a British colonial influence. Meanwhile, it ranks as the 896th most common surname in the United States.
Variations of the surname Farr
The surname Farr has several variants and the family can be traced back to areas in England and Scotland. A number of different spellings have been identified across various historical texts and records, which often indicate how names changed and evolved over time, often due to factors such as translation and transcription errors. These spellings include but are not limited to Farrow, Farro, Farroh, Farre, Fare, Phare, Pharr, Pharro, Pharrow, Fahr, Fahre, Fehr, and Varr.
The surnames are derived from Old English, meaning bull, journey or ferrous that indicates a maker of iron goods or a person having iron-gray hair. Thus, other related surnames could also contain references to iron, color, and career or occupation indication.
It's worthy to note that different spellings might suggest a different direct origin, but they can be considered as variants if their pronunciation is identical or similar. The combination of surname research and genealogical DNA analysis can often help clarify relationships between different families with the same or similar surnames.
Famous people with the name Farr
- Jamie Farr: An American actor, known for playing Corporal Klinger on the TV series M.A.S.H.
- Diane Farr: An American actress and writer, recognized for her roles in television series like "Numbers" and "Rescue Me."
- Tommy Farr: A British boxer, who held the British and Empire heavyweight titles.
- Steve Farr: An American retired professional baseball player.
- Bruce Farr: A New Zealand-born yacht designer, known internationally for his work.
- Edwin J. Farr: A British civil engineer, who made notable contributions to the development of stress ribbon bridges.
- Giles Farr: A British archaeologist known for his work on the archaeology of the South West of England.
- Thomas Farr: An American attorney nominated by President Donald Trump to the federal courts.
- Eve Farr: An American peace activist and writer of the 20th century.
- Gary Farr: A British folk and rock singer-songwriter, known for his involvement in the 1960s rock scene.
- David Farr: A British writer known for co-writing the AMC series "The Night Manager."
- Tyler Farr: An American country music singer and songwriter, known for the song "Redneck Crazy". This is a variety of individuals from different fields including acting, sports, yacht design, archaeology, music, and more.