Contents [hide]

Farry History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Farry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

Early Origins of the Farry family

The surname Farry was first found in North Ayrshire at Fairlie, a village on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde and looks across to the Isle of Arran and the Cumbraes.

The Norman knight Sir Richard de Morville was appointed by King David I of Scotland (1084-1153) to hold land in Scotland. He became High Constable of Scotland and Lord of Cunninghame, Largs and Lauderdale. This land was later subdivided and by the 13th century, the land of Fairlie was held by the de Ros (or Ross) family of Tarbert.

One of the sons of the Ross family who built the Castle and adopted the name Fairlie. Fairlie Castle which survived until the 1840s is now in ruins. It lies in Fairlie Glen near the town of Fairlie in the old Barony of Fairlie, Parish of Largs, North Ayrshire. One source claims that Sir Robert Fairlie of that Ilk built the present castle in 1521. By design, it was a tower castle without a motte or a bailey and had four storeys. The walls were about 1.6m (5.25 feet) thick.

"Of Fairlie Castle, a strong square building, said to have belonged to Hardicanute, the walls are still entire; and near it, but in West Kilbride parish, are remains of an ancient chapel round which are some fine old trees." 1

One of the first records of the name was William de Fairlie who was granted a pardon by Edward III at Berwick in 1335 "for all the crimes committed by him in the war with England." 2

Another author states "It is rather remarkable that so few notices of this family are to be found, and that such as exist are of such a disconnected and fragmentary nature."

Alternatively, the name could have originated in England. Farleigh-Hungerford is a parish, in the union of Frome, hundred of Wellow, E. division of Somerset and East Fairleigh is a parish, in the union and hundred of Maidstone, lathe of Aylesford, W. division of Kent. West Fairleigh can be found nearby. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Hugh de Farleye as living there at that time. 3

As far as the meaning of the name: "one who came from Fairlee (beautiful glade), in Wight, or from Fairley (fern clearing), in Shropshire." 4

Early History of the Farry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farry research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1274, 1329, 1335 and 1342 are included under the topic Early Farry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farry Spelling Variations

The name Farry, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Fairley, Fairlie, Fayrle, Farle, Farnley, Farnlie, Farnly, Ferle, Ffarly, Farnlye, Farinley, Farinle, Farinlee, Farinlea, Farinleigh, Farnleigh, Fairleigh, Fayrleigh, Fairie, Fairy, Farie and many more.

Early Notables of the Farry family

More information is included under the topic Early Farry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farry migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Farry family, or who bore a variation of the surname Farry were

Farry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jean Farry, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1700 5

Farry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Farry, aged 22, who immigrated to America from Sligo, in 1898

Farry Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ethel Farry, aged 1, who landed in America from Towyn, in 1904
Anne Farry, aged 60, who landed in America from Mulrany, in 1905
Horah J. Farry, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Joppa, Scotland, in 1911
James Farry, aged 51, who landed in America, in 1923
John Farry, aged 51, who settled in America, in 1923

Farry migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Farry Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bird. Farry, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
Mr. Daniel Farry, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Swallow" departing 15th May 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 25th June 1847 but he died on board 6

Farry migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Farry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Farry, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1849 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Farry (post 1700) +

Frank Farry, American politician, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Jim Farry (1954-2010), Scottish chief executive of the Scottish Football Association (1990 to 1999)
Stephen Farry (b. 1971), Northern Irish politician
Marc-Antoine Farry (b. 1959), French professional PGA golfer
John Farry (b. 1959), Irish singer and songwriter
Eithne Farry, British editor and book reviewer

The Farry Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Paratus sum
Motto Translation: I am prepared.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 75)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZABETH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Elizabeth.htm