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

Ferriman, 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 Ferriman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ferriman in America

Ferriman is the 92719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ferriman surname appeared 198 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 Ferriman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ferriman 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 Ferriman

The surname Ferriman is of English origin, deriving from the medieval occupation of a ferryman, one who transported passengers across rivers or other bodies of water by ferry. The name can be traced back to the early 13th century, with its roots in the Old English words "ferian" meaning "to carry" and "man" referring to a person.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ferriman can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mention a John Feriman. In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Feriman, Feryman, and Ferryman, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that period.

The Ferriman surname was particularly prevalent in areas with significant river crossings or ferry services, such as the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. This connection to ferry operations is further evidenced by the presence of place names like Ferrimanham in Oxfordshire, which likely derived from the Ferriman surname.

Historical records show that the Ferriman family played a role in the English Civil War (1642-1651). John Ferriman (1592-1677), a prominent member of the family, served as a captain in the Parliamentary forces and was known for his staunch support of the Puritan cause.

Another notable figure bearing the Ferriman surname was William Ferriman (1670-1743), a successful merchant and landowner from Warwickshire. He was responsible for the construction of Baddesley Clinton, a grand manor house that remains a remarkable example of English architecture from the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Ferriman family produced several accomplished individuals, including:

1. Edward Ferriman (1808-1884), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Recorder of Worcester.
2. Thomas Ferriman (1820-1891), a renowned botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life.
3. Mary Ferriman (1845-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded one of the first girls' schools in London.

Moving into the 20th century, the Ferriman name continued to be represented in various fields:

4. Harold Ferriman (1901-1985), a distinguished scientist and chemist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of polymer chemistry.
5. Elizabeth Ferriman (1920-2008), a celebrated actress and playwright, known for her performances on the London stage and her award-winning plays.

The surname Ferriman, with its rich history and connection to the occupation of ferrying passengers across waterways, has left an indelible mark on various aspects of English society, from military service and commerce to academia and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ferriman

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

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

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

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