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

Ferm, 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 Ferm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ferm in America

Ferm is the 55962nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ferm surname appeared 366 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ferm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ferm 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 Ferm

The surname FERM originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "feorm," which means "provisions" or "food rent." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked on a farm or provided provisions to a lord or landowner.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273, where it appears as "Robert Ferm." This indicates that the name was already established in Norfolk by the late 13th century.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, there is a record of a John Ferm, suggesting that the name had spread to other parts of England by the early 14th century.

The Ferm surname is also found in the Placita de Quo Warranto records of 1292, which were a series of inquiries conducted by Edward I to establish the rights and privileges of landowners and tenants.

During the Middle Ages, the Ferm family was associated with the village of Farnham in Surrey, which was originally known as "Ferm-ham" or "Ferm's homestead." This connection to a place name further strengthens the link between the surname and its agricultural origins.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Ferm, who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1391. He played a significant role in the governance of the city and was involved in various charitable works during his tenure.

Another prominent individual with the Ferm surname was Richard Ferm, a scholar and theologian who lived in the late 16th century. He was educated at the University of Cambridge and became a fellow of Trinity College, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 17th century, there was a William Ferm who was a member of the Honorable Artillery Company, a prestigious military organization in London. His involvement in this company indicates that the Ferm family had gained social standing and influence by this period.

During the 18th century, a notable figure was Thomas Ferm, a successful merchant and landowner who resided in the town of Farnham. He was involved in local politics and served as a magistrate, reflecting the family's continued prominence in the region.

In the 19th century, the Ferm surname was also found in Scotland, with a James Ferm being recorded as a prominent lawyer and advocate in Edinburgh. He was known for his legal expertise and played a significant role in shaping the Scottish legal system of his time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ferm

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

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

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

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