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

Farrar, 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 Farrar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farrar in America

Farrar is the 2434th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farrar surname appeared 14,892 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Farrar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farrar 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 Farrar

The surname Farrar originated in England, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old French word "ferrour," meaning "iron worker" or "blacksmith." This points to the name's connection with the metalworking trade, likely referring to an ancestor who worked as a blacksmith or farrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ferrar." This valuable historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides insights into the distribution of surnames across England during that time period.

As the name evolved, various spellings emerged, such as Ferrer, Ferror, and Farrer, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. The spelling "Farrar" became more prevalent in later centuries, particularly in certain regions of England.

Notable individuals with the Farrar surname include John Farrar, a 16th-century English Protestant reformer and martyr, who was burned at the stake in 1555 during the Marian Persecutions. Another notable figure was Reverend John Farrar (1592-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of St. Giles' Church in Cripplegate, London.

In the 18th century, Samuel Farrar (1741-1795) was a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War. He achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Bath.

Moving into the 19th century, Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903) was an English clergyman, author, and renowned educator. He served as the Headmaster of Marlborough College and later became the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. His literary works, including the influential book "Life of Christ," earned him widespread acclaim.

Another notable figure was Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967), an American operatic soprano who achieved international fame during the early 20th century. She performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and became one of the first opera singers to achieve widespread popularity through recordings and motion pictures.

The Farrar surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Farrar's Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Farrar's Point in New York, United States, reflecting the geographical spread of individuals bearing this name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farrar

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

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 Farrar 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 Farrar 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 Farrar was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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