Farren
Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fuaráin, meaning "descendant of Fuarán," derived from "fuar" meaning "cold."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,530 Americans carry the last name Farren. That puts it at #10,541 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 97,098 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Farren surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.5K
1 in 97,098
Census rank
#10,541
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,042 bearers of the surname Farren in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10541st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Farren, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Farren
The surname Farren originated in Ireland and has its roots in the Gaelic language. It is thought to have derived from the Irish Gaelic word "fearann," which means "land" or "territory." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who owned or was associated with a particular piece of land or estate.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Farren surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. In this text, the name is spelled "O'Fearanainn," which translates to "descendant of Fearann."
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Farren surname was prevalent in the counties of Sligo and Mayo in the western province of Connacht. It is likely that the name originated in this region and later spread to other parts of Ireland.
Notable individuals bearing the Farren surname include:
1. William Farren (1786-1861), an Irish actor and theatre manager who was a prominent figure in the early 19th century London stage.
2. Nellie Farren (1848-1904), an English music hall performer and actress, known for her roles in popular Victorian burlesque productions.
3. Michael Farren (1899-1962), an Irish Republican Army officer and politician who served as a member of the Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann) from 1923 to 1927.
4. Richard Farren (born 1948), an American actor and director best known for his work in television shows like "NYPD Blue" and "The West Wing."
5. James Farren (1821-1892), an Irish-born Australian surveyor and explorer who played a significant role in mapping and exploring parts of Western Australia in the 19th century.
While the Farren surname has its origins in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, due to Irish emigration and settlement in these regions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Farren
Among Census respondents with the surname Farren, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Farren bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Farren surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Black or African American1.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Farren surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,527 | #10,541 | -0.1% |
| Count | 2,796 | 3,042 | 8.8% |
| Per 100K | 1.04 | 1.03 | -1.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Farren bearers went from 2,796 to 3,042 (+8.8% change). The surname moved down 14 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,527 to #10,541.
FAQ
Farren surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Farren?
The surname Farren holds position #10,541 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,530 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Farren surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Farren, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.