Ferr last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Ferr

An Italian surname derived from the Latin word "ferrum," meaning iron or blacksmith.

Ferr, 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 Ferr surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Ferr in America

Ferr is the 141788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ferr surname appeared 108 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ferr.

The history of the last name Ferr

The surname Ferr has its origins in medieval Europe, with strong indications pointing to the regions of France and Italy. Earliest records suggest that the name could be derived from the Old French word fer, meaning iron, or from the Latin word ferrum, also meaning iron. These references likely indicate an association with an occupation, specifically that of an ironworker or blacksmith, a common practice for surname formation in the Middle Ages.

Historically, the surname Ferr can be traced back to the regions of Normandy in France and Lombardy in Italy, areas known for their skilled metalworkers and blacksmiths. In France, early mentions of the name appear in late 11th-century documents, aligning with the period of Norman expansion across Europe. The name Ferr may also be connected to place names such as Ferrières in Normandy, suggesting that the surname could have been toponymic, deriving from a place where ironwork was prominent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a de Ferrières is mentioned as a landholder in England, brought over by William the Conqueror from France. This reinforces the idea that the surname Ferr was present in noble circuits and associated with occupations of significant importance like ironworking.

In the 13th century, records from Italy document various individuals bearing the name Ferri, an Italian variant, particularly in the Lombardy region. One such notable person was Alessandro Ferri, born in 1290 and known for his contributions to metalwork advancements in Milan. These records reveal the integration of the surname into different social strata, from artisans to merchants.

Further notable individuals include Pietro Ferri, a 15th-century Venetian trader born in 1423, who played a crucial role in the Mediterranean trade routes. His recorded transactions and correspondence offer a glimpse into the widespread presence of the Ferr surname in various facets of society.

During the Renaissance, the Ferri surname appeared in artistic circles. Francesco Ferri, born 1510 in Florence, was a renowned sculptor whose works were celebrated for their intricate iron designs, reflecting the surname’s occupational roots. His surviving sculptures have etched the Ferr name into the annals of artistic history.

In the subsequent centuries, the name Ferr continued to be associated with ironwork and metal trades across Europe. One figure of interest is Giovanni Ferri, born 1685 in Rome, an innovative blacksmith whose techniques were widely emulated throughout the region. His contributions not only solidified the surname’s connection to the ironworking profession but also helped in preserving the legacy of the Ferr surname.

By the 19th century, the Ferr surname had spread beyond Europe to various parts of the Americas, carried over by immigrants seeking new opportunities. Despite evolving and integrating into new cultures, the enduring legacy of the surname Ferr remains deeply tied to its historical roots in ironworking and craftsmanship.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ferr

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ferr was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.81% 97
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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