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

Farrell, 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 Farrell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farrell in America

Farrell is the 652nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farrell surname appeared 52,321 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Farrell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farrell 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 Farrell

The surname Farrell is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Fearghail" or "Fear Ghal", which means "man of valor" or "man of the bright foreigner". It is an ancient name that can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland.

The name Farrell is believed to have its roots in County Longford, where it was prominent among the O'Farrell clan, a sept of the Ui Briuin dynasty. The O'Farrells were lords of Annaly, a territory that encompassed parts of modern-day Counties Longford, Westmeath, and Cavan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farrell can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention several members of the O'Farrell clan, including Conchobhar O'Farrell, who was slain in a battle in 1187.

In the 14th century, the Farrells were among the prominent Irish families who resisted the Norman invasion and fought to maintain their independence. During this period, the name appears in various records and documents, sometimes with alternative spellings such as O'Ferrall, Ferrell, or Farrell.

Notable historical figures with the surname Farrell include:

1. Ferghal O'Farrell (c. 1265 - c. 1330), an Irish nobleman and lord of Annaly.
2. Sir Thomas Farrell (c. 1560 - 1620), an English soldier and colonist who played a role in the Plantation of Ulster.
3. Nicholas Farrell (1647 - 1718), an Irish Catholic priest and writer who published works on theology and philosophy.
4. Edmond Farrell (1763 - 1835), an Irish-born American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
5. John Theophilus Farrell (1804 - 1892), an Irish-born Anglican clergyman and author who served as Bishop of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

The surname Farrell has a long and storied history, with roots deeply embedded in the rich cultural tapestry of Ireland. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including noblemen, soldiers, clergy, and writers, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farrell

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

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

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

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