Find out how popular the last name Farnell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Farnell.

Farnell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Farnell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farnell in America

Farnell is the 25889th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farnell surname appeared 950 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Farnell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farnell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Farnell

The surname Farnell is of English origin, deriving from a locational name for someone who lived near a fern-covered hill or valley. The name is derived from the Old English words "fearn" meaning fern and "hyll" meaning hill. The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 13th century, with William de Ferendelle documented in Yorkshire in 1273.

Records indicate that the Farnell family was well-established in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is also found in various forms such as Farnhill, Fernhill, and Fearnley. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John de Farnhill, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275.

The Farnell surname has a notable presence in historical records. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Ferendene" is mentioned, which is believed to be the origin of the Farnell name. Additionally, the Farnell family is documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327, suggesting their prominence in the region during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Farnell surname. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Thomas Farnell (c. 1575-1647), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire. Another prominent figure was John Farnell (1767-1826), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the realm of literature, Walter Farnell (1896-1964) was a British playwright and screenwriter, best known for his works such as "The Spanish Curate" and "The Hanging Judge." William Farnell (1809-1886), an English clergyman and antiquarian, authored several works on the history and archaeology of the region.

Another notable bearer of the Farnell name was Sir Thomas Farnell (1766-1829), a British naval officer who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was commended for his bravery and leadership in several battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

While the Farnell surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. However, the historical records and lineages mentioned above provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farnell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Farnell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Farnell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Farnell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Farnell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Farnell, please contact us.

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