The Farley surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 38,528 people carried this name — #898 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 7,660 people counted. That is up 4% from 37,116 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Farley surname

A habitational surname from Old English derived from the place names.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Farley» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Fairleigh’.

An early record he cites: Jacob de Farlegh, Wiltshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Fairleigh, Fairley, Fairlie and Farley.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 280 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 7 births for the Farley name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 3
Leinster 2
Munster 2

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 238 people named Farley live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Chaco.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Chaco 87
Santa Fe 77
Buenos Aires Province 57
City of Buenos Aires 17

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 21 people named Farley.

9 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 8 départements, most often Pas-de-Calais.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 9
Pas-de-Calais 4
French Guiana 2
Finistère 1
Lot-et-Garonne 1
Nord 1
Paris 1
Yvelines 1
Guadeloupe 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

23 people named Farley is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 23

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

58 families named Farley, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 376 people lived in those households, 6.5 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 13
New Hampshire 10
Massachusetts 10
Virginia 10
Pennsylvania 6
Maine 2
Vermont 2
Connecticut 2
Maryland 2
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 239 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Farley in American newspapers,
1875–1910.

Newspaper page from Essex County Herald carrying the name Farley
Essex County Herald 1875-11-13
Newspaper page from Lawrence Democrat carrying the name Farley
Lawrence Democrat 1905-05-26
Newspaper page from Northern Wisconsin Advertiser carrying the name Farley
Northern Wisconsin Advertiser 1910-05-20

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 227,692 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Farley in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

42,528 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Farley. The most, 6,271, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 14,030
Victoria 11,355
Queensland 7,812
South Australia 5,173
Western Australia 2,814
Tasmania 1,076
ACT (Canberra) 210
Northern Territory 7

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Farley.

Who carried it

People named Farley,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Charles Farley
    Charles Farley 1771–1859 · stage actor
  • Eben Farley
    Eben Farley 1775–1826
  • Benjamin Mark Farley
    Benjamin Mark Farley 1783–1865 · lawyer
  • Reuben Farley d. 1899
  • Maisie Selina Peta Coast d. 2010
  • Frank Farley d. 1951

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Farley,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States6,078 records

6,078 records of the Farley name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 2,075
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,338
  • Other U.S. records 2,665
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Ronald J. Farley

    Born 1931; from Baltimore City, Maryland. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1950 in South Korea. Buried at Baltimore National Cemetery, Maryland.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert E. Farley

    Born 1918 in Indiana. Enlisted 1942 at Indianapolis; waiter from Marion County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at City Cemetery, Lawrenceville, Illinois.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaret Farley

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Majestic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 27; helper. From Liverpool, England; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 6,078 records for Farley in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,028 records

1,028 records of the Farley name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 476
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 188
  • Other Australian records 364
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Beatrice Annie Farley

    Born 1895 in New Norfolk, Tasmania. Married 1914 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 18.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Edmund Farley

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the General Hewitt, arriving 1814; ticket of leave 1830. Native of Worcestershire.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph Hy Farley

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Harbinger, aged 8; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,028 records for Farley in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada83 records

83 records of the Farley name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 32
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 13
  • Other Canadian records 38
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jno Farley

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Prussian, bound for Widder, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Edwin Ellrick Farley

    Buried in 1979 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 57.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Michael Farley

    Died 1901 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 83 records for Farley in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom34 records

34 records of the Farley name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 29
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ann Farley

    Buried in 1848 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 72.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Chas Farley

    Will proved in 1930.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. A. Farley

    Suffolk Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 34 records for Farley in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand9 records

9 records of the Farley name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 6
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lilian Geraldine Farley

    Died 1934, aged 36; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Farley

    Buried in 1946 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 66.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Louisa Elizabeth Farley

    Died 1905, aged 49; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Farley in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France5 records

5 records of the Farley name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Genevieve Augusta Louise Farley

    Born 1913 in Vaux-sur-Seine (Yvelines); died 1991 in Lorient (Morbihan).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Edouard Daniel Farley

    Born 1945 in Sinnamary; died 1993 in Kourou (Guyane).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jacqueline Vivian Farley

    Born 1924 in Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Lot-et-Garonne); died 2001 in Rezé (Loire-Atlantique).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Farley in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the Farley name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Johan Farley

    In the population register of Helmond; born 1862 in Woolwich, England.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Bridget Farley

    In the population register of Vlissingen; born 1872 in Edinburgh.

    Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Vlissingen (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Farley.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Farley is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Farley volume
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