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

Farrow, 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 Farrow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farrow in America

Farrow is the 3353rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farrow surname appeared 10,672 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Farrow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farrow 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 Farrow

The surname Farrow is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fearra," meaning "bull" or "ox." This suggests that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who worked with these animals or possessed characteristics associated with them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farrow can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Farrewe." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Farreu," "Farrowe," and "Farrouwe." These variations reflect the different spellings and pronunciations that were common during that time period.

The surname Farrow is also associated with several place names in England, such as Farrow in Derbyshire and Farrow Field in Worcestershire. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, as people often adopted surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable individual bearing the surname Farrow was Samuel Farrow (1641-1719), an English nonconformist minister and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Serious Call to Repentance" and "The Doctrine of Justification."

Another prominent figure was John Farrow (1594-1670), an English Puritan clergyman and theologian, who served as the rector of Geddington in Northamptonshire and wrote several theological treatises.

In the 18th century, Thomas Farrow (1712-1788) was a notable English painter and engraver, known for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes.

Moving into the 19th century, John Farrow (1804-1884) was a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several Arctic expeditions.

Lastly, Mia Farrow (born 1945) is a renowned American actress and activist, known for her roles in films such as "Rosemary's Baby" and her humanitarian work. While not directly related to the surname's historical origins, her fame has undoubtedly contributed to the recognition of the Farrow name in modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farrow

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

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

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

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