The Farrar surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 14,892 people carried this name — #2,434 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 19,800 people counted. That is up 3% from 14,451 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Farrar surname

English occupational surname for a blacksmith or an ironworker, from Old French ferrier (“smith”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Farrar» (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 an occupational name: ‘a maker of horse-shoes’.

An early record he cites: Willelmus Ferour, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Farrar and Farrer.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 282 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 7 births for the Farrar name in 1890.

Most were registered in Leinster. 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. One of them was indexed under another spelling of the name.

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

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 7

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

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Farrar was found among the farmers of 3 counties.

It was most frequent in Yorkshire, West Riding: 22 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 455. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Farrar and Farrer.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Yorkshire, West Riding 22
Bedfordshire 15
Cumberland and Westmorland 13

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

77 families named Farrar, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 401 people lived in those households, 5.2 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 6 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

Massachusetts 24
New Hampshire 19
Virginia 12
North Carolina 11
South Carolina 8
Rhode Island 1
New York 1
Maryland 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

Farrar in American newspapers,
1896–1916.

Newspaper page from The Pensacola Journal carrying the name Farrar
The Pensacola Journal 1916-01-06
Newspaper page from Catoctin Clarion carrying the name Farrar
Catoctin Clarion 1896-11-12
Newspaper page from Yorkville Enquirer carrying the name Farrar
Yorkville Enquirer 1896-11-07

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 150,697 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Farrar in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

29,613 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Farrar. The most, 9,548, date from the 1920s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 5.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 16,173
Victoria 4,959
Queensland 2,977
South Australia 2,080
Western Australia 1,954
Tasmania 945
Northern Territory 243
ACT (Canberra) 221

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

Who carried it

People named Farrar,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Farrar d. 1685 · politician
  • Preston W. Farrar d. 1850 · politician
  • Abraham Pharar d. 1663 · physician
  • Robert Farrar d. 1570 · politician
  • Abraham Farrar d. 1872 · maintenance worker
  • Benedict Farrar d. 1978

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Farrar,
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 States1,265 records

1,265 records of the Farrar name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 559
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 234
  • Other U.S. records 472
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Hartwell S. Farrar

    Born 1923 in New York. Enlisted 1943 at Albany; lumberman from Warren County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Warrensburg Cemetery, New York.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1891 aboard the Germanic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 25; laborer. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Errold Rufus Farrar

    Born 1947; from Mattydale, New York. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Chau Doc, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,265 records for Farrar in the United States.

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

Australia512 records

512 records of the Farrar name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 281
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 126
  • Other Australian records 105
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Howard Farrar

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1856. Married 1856 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 33.

    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 Joseph Farrar

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Grenada, arriving 1819.

    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 Geo Jas Farrar

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Red Jacket, aged 18; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 512 records for Farrar in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). 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).

Canada29 records

29 records of the Farrar name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 8
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 6
  • Other Canadian records 15
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record David Farrar

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Moravian, landing at Quebec, bound for Paris, Ontario; English.

    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 Lily Farrar

    Died 1981; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Percy Earl Farrar

    Died in service in 1918.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 29 records for Farrar in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · 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); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom27 records

27 records of the Farrar name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 20
  • Stirling Council burial records 3
  • Other British records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Jessie Farrar

    Died 1992, aged 86; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. 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 Mary Melrose Farrar

    Will proved in 1933; of Cardiff.

    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 W. A. Farrar

    Lance Corporal, Northumberland Fusiliers. 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 27 records for Farrar in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · 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 Zealand15 records

15 records of the Farrar name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joshua Farrar

    Died 1932, aged 78; buried at Bromley 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 Alec Sugden Farrar

    Died 1977, aged 76; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bertha Mary Farrar

    Died 1970, aged 88; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Farrar in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City 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).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Farrar name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 2
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Geraldine Lucy Farrar

    In the population register of Bergeijk; born 1916 in Cambridge (Gb).

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 3 records for Farrar in the Netherlands.

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

Germany3 records

3 records of the Farrar name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Heinrich Farrar

    From Schwarzbach, Hoyerswerda. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 29 October 1915 (Infantry Regiment No. 169).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Karl Farrar

    From Naundorf. Reported dead in the Saxon casualty list of 2 October 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Farrar in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Farrar.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Farrar 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.

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