Ferril
A rare masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly an invented name.
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Ferril. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ferril today is around 77 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ferril births was 1939 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ferril. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ferril is about 77 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ferrils were born before 1959.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ferril. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1939
5 babies that year
Average age
77
years old
1939 SSA rank
#3,663
Tracked since 1939
Popularity
Ferril: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ferril by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ferril during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ferril
The name Ferril is believed to have its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, specifically derived from the Proto-Germanic root "fer-," meaning "traveler" or "wanderer." This root can be traced back to the 5th century CE and was commonly used as a prefix or suffix in personal names among various Germanic tribes.
During the early medieval period, variations of the name, such as "Ferrel" and "Ferrell," were recorded in different regions of Europe, including present-day Germany, England, and Scandinavia. It is possible that the name was brought to these areas by migrating Germanic tribes or through cultural exchanges and trade routes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ferril can be found in the Domesday Book, a census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book lists a landowner named "Ferril" in the county of Oxfordshire, England, indicating the name's presence in the region during the Norman period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ferril. One such figure was Ferril of Lucca (c. 1230-1293), an Italian jurist and legal scholar who made significant contributions to the development of canon law. His writings and commentaries on ecclesiastical law were widely studied and influential during the Middle Ages.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Ferril von Buren (1568-1642), a German military commander who fought in the Thirty Years' War. He served under various Protestant armies and is remembered for his strategic leadership and bravery on the battlefield.
In the 17th century, Ferril Peyton (1637-1679) was a prominent landowner and political figure in colonial Virginia. He served as a member of the House of Burgesses and played an important role in the early governance of the colony.
Moving forward in time, Ferril Edmunds (1821-1895) was an American politician and lawyer from Vermont. He served as a United States Senator from 1866 to 1891 and was known for his advocacy of civil service reform and his opposition to patronage politics.
Finally, Ferril Knebusch (1903-1992) was a German-American artist and educator. He taught at various universities and is renowned for his contributions to the field of printmaking, particularly his innovative techniques in woodcut and linocut prints.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Ferril throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across different cultures, professions, and time periods.
People
Ferril + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ferril as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ferril: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ferril?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ferril going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Ferril a common name?
We classify Ferril as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ferril most popular?
The single biggest year for Ferril was 1939, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ferril is about 77 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ferril in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ferril a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ferril in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ferril still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ferril in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ferril can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Ferril?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.