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

Ferrier, 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 Ferrier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ferrier in America

Ferrier is the 8959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ferrier surname appeared 3,654 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ferrier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ferrier 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 Ferrier

The surname Ferrier is of French origin, derived from the Old French word 'ferrier', meaning a blacksmith or worker of iron. It is believed to have emerged in the late 11th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The name is thought to have originated in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany. These areas were known for their metalworking and ironworking industries, which likely contributed to the emergence of the occupational surname Ferrier.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as 'Ferrarius', a latinized version of the French 'ferrier', indicating the presence of individuals with this occupation in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as 'Ferrer', 'Ferour', and 'Feror', reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Robert le Ferrier, a prominent landowner in Nottinghamshire, England, who was mentioned in records from the year 1275.

The Ferrier surname can also be traced to various place names in France, such as Ferrières, which means 'iron works' or 'iron mines'. This further reinforces the connection between the name and the metalworking trade.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Ferrier surname. One example is Jean Ferrier (1489-1550), a French jurist and philosopher who served as the Chancellor of France during the reign of King Francis I. Another notable bearer of the name was Arnaud Ferrier (1506-1585), a French lawyer and diplomat who played a significant role in the French Wars of Religion.

In England, the Ferrier family can be traced back to the 16th century. One prominent member was Sir Walter Ferrier (1555-1629), an English courtier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

Other notable individuals with the Ferrier surname include James Frederick Ferrier (1808-1864), a Scottish philosopher and metaphysician, and Jean-Baptiste Ferrier (1866-1936), a French sculptor and medalist.

Overall, the Ferrier surname has a rich history rooted in the metalworking and ironworking trades of medieval France, with branches spreading throughout Europe and beyond, leaving a lasting legacy in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ferrier

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

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

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

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