Contents [hide]

Ferrer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Ferrer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Italy
Portugal
Spain
Ireland

The ancestors of the Ferrer family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Staffordshire. The name, however, derives from the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Ferriers, in Gastonois, Normandy. Specifically, the place name comes from "ferrière," which refers to an "iron works." "Many of the coats-armours assigned to the name contain horse-shoes, and at Oakham in Rutlandshire, an ancient barony of the family, a custom prevails to this day of demanding a horse-shoe of every peer of the realm who passes through the town." 1 Another source clarifies that it was Walkelin de Ferrers who started this tradition shortly after he settled there after the Norman Conquest. 2

Early Origins of the Ferrer family

The surname Ferrer was first found in Staffordshire, where Henry de Fereres of Ferriers-St. Hilaire, Lord of Longueville, Normandy was on record in the Domesday Book of 1086; his castle was at Tutbury, Staffordshire; he had large holdings in Derbyshire, as well as lands in 14 other counties. Other early records include a Henry le Ferrur on record in 1196 in the Curia Regis Rolls for that same county.

"Henry de Ferrers, who accompanied Duke William to England, was son of Walchelin, a Norman knight, and assumed the surname he bore from Ferriers, a small town of Gastinois, celebrated for its iron mines. Hence, too, originated the 'six horse shoes,' the armorial ensigns of the House of Ferrers, allusive to the seigneuris's staple commodity, so essential to the soldier and cavalier in those rude times when war was esteemed the chief business of life, and the adroit management of the steed, even amongst the nobility, the first of accomplishments. The name of Henry de Ferrers occurs in Domesday Book, and from that record he appears to have had vast possessions." 3

Said to be descendents of Henry de Feriers, the Norman Ferrers family held the earldom of Derby from 1138-1266 and "held 210 lordships in fourteen counties of England, besides the castle and borough of Tutbury, in Staffordshire, the principle seat of the earldom." 4

However, not all the lordships and manors stayed with the family. "The manor [of Uttoxeter in Staffordshire] was granted by the Conqueror to Henry de Ferrers, Earl of Derby; and was forfeited to the crown, together with the other large estates of that family, by Earl Robert, in the reign of Henry III., and given to Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, the king's second son." 2

And another example of the family losing an estate: "In the 36th of Henry III. the manor [of Wavertree in Lancashire] was granted to William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, from whom it reverted to the crown." 2

And yet another branch of the family were well established at Wirksworth in Derbyshire in ancient times. "In the Domesday book, Wirksworth is described as the property of the king, having a church, a priest, and three leadmines; and it remained in the crown until King John, in the fifth year of his reign, granted it to William de Ferrers, in whose family it continued till the attainder of his descendant, Robert, in the time of Henry III. By this monarch it was given in 1265 to his son, Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, and the manor has since that period constituted a part of the possessions of the duchy of Lancaster." 2

Early History of the Ferrer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ferrer research. Another 248 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1062, 1138, 1139, 1190, 1239, 1271, 1279, 1299, 1300, 1325, 1358, 1367, 1373, 1399, 1410, 1412, 1413, 1423, 1445, 1462, 1548, 1629, 1660, 1680 and 1899 are included under the topic Early Ferrer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferrer Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ferrer were recorded, including Ferrer, Ferrers, Ferers, Feres, Ferris, Ferres, Ferries, Ferras, Farris, Farriss, Faries, de Ferrers, Ferriers and many more.

Early Notables of the Ferrer family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

the ennobled families Ferrers, Earls of Derby (1138-1279)
Baron Ferrers of Chartley (1299-1325)
Lord Ferrers of Groby (1300-1445)
Robert de Ferrers, 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley (1358-1413), inherited the title of Baron Ferrers of Chartley upon his father's death at the Battle of Nájera in 1367 but was never summoned to parliam...

Ferrer Ranking

In the United States, the name Ferrer is the 3,165^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5 However, in France, the name Ferrer is ranked the 470^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,368 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Ferrer family to Ireland

Some of the Ferrer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferrer migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Ferrer arrived in North America very early:

Ferrer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Ferrer, who landed in Virginia in 1618 7
Sarah Ferrer, who arrived in Maryland in 1659 7

Ferrer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johannes Ferrer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 7
John Ferrer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1727 7
Johan Rudolph Ferrer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 7
George Ferrer, who arrived in Maryland in 1774
George Ferrer, aged 16, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1776 7

Ferrer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francisco Ferrer, aged 28, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1804 7
Antonio Ferrer, who arrived in America in 1804
Antonio Ferrer, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1804 7
Manuel Ferrer, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1804 7
John Ferrer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ferrer (post 1700) +

Miguel José Ferrer (1955-2017), American actor and voice actor, best known for his villainous role as Bob Morton, the designer of the title character in RoboCop (1987)
Rafael Ferrer (b. 1960), American actor
Frank Ferrer (b. 1966), American contemporary rock drummer and session musician
Mel Ferrer (1917-2008), American actor, film director and film producer
Irene O. Ferrer, American politician, Delegate to New York convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933
Fernando Ferrer (b. 1950), American Democratic Party politician, Borough President of Bronx, New York, 1987-2001; Presidential Elector for New York, 1992; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1996, 2000, 2004; Member, Credentials Committee, 2008;
Felipe Ferrer, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Mollendo, 1938-47
Edward E. Ferrer, American politician, Representative from California 27th District, 1990
Edward Ferrer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Puerto Rico, 1916
Armania Ferrer, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 2000
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Ferrer 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: Splendio tritus
Motto Translation: I shine though worn.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)