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

Farris, 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 Farris surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farris in America

Farris is the 1179th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farris surname appeared 29,877 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Farris.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farris 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 Farris

The surname Farris has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Portugal and Spain. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "farra," which means "abundance" or "prosperity." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to families who owned fertile lands or were prosperous farmers.

One of the earliest records of the name Farris can be found in the Inquisition records of Portugal from the 15th century. During this time, the Inquisition targeted individuals and families of Jewish descent, and many were forced to convert to Christianity or face persecution. It is possible that some families with the surname Farris were of Sephardic Jewish origin and may have adopted the name to conceal their Jewish heritage.

The name Farris also appears in various historic documents from Spain, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura. In the 16th century, there are records of a wealthy landowner named Juan Farris, who owned vast estates near Seville. It is believed that his family may have played a significant role in the agricultural development of the region.

During the colonial era, the surname Farris spread to various parts of the Spanish Empire, including the Americas. One notable individual was Pedro Farris, a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in the early 16th century.

Another prominent figure with the surname Farris was Antonio Farris, a Spanish artist and architect who lived in the 17th century. He is best known for his contributions to the construction of the Cathedral of Seville, one of the largest and most impressive Gothic cathedrals in the world.

In the United States, the surname Farris can be traced back to the early 19th century, when many immigrants from Spain and Portugal arrived in the country. One notable individual was Robert Farris, a soldier and politician from Tennessee, who served as a United States Representative from 1847 to 1853.

Throughout history, the surname Farris has been associated with various professions, from landowners and farmers to artists, explorers, and politicians. While its exact origins may be shrouded in mystery, the name continues to carry a sense of prosperity and abundance, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farris

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

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

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

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