Show ContentsFerrin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish surname Ferrin is an Anglicization of a few different Gaelic names, such as "Ó Faracháin," "Ó Fearáin," and "Ó Forannáin."

Early Origins of the Ferrin family

The surname Ferrin was first found in County Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel.

Early History of the Ferrin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ferrin research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ferrin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferrin Spelling Variations

Before widespread literacy came to Ireland, a name was often recorded under several different variations during the life of its bearer. Accordingly, numerous spelling variations were revealed in the search for the origin of the name Ferrin family name. Variations found include Fearon, Feron, Feran, Farren and others.

Early Notables of the Ferrin family

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

Ferrin Ranking

In the United States, the name Ferrin is the 9,576th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Ferrin migration to the United States +

Thousands of Irish families left for North American shores in the 19th century. These people were searching for a life unencumbered with poverty, hunger, and racial discrimination. Many arrived to eventually find such conditions, but many others simply did not arrive: victims of the diseased, overcrowded ships in which they traveled to the New World. Those who lived to see North American shores were instrumental in the development of the growing nations of Canada and the United States. A thorough examination of passenger and immigration lists has disclosed evidence of many early immigrants of the name Ferrin:

Ferrin Settlers in United States in the 16th Century
  • Estaban Ferrin immigrated to Peru in 1534
Ferrin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Ferrin, who landed in Virginia in 1704 2
  • Joshua Ferrin, aged 29, who landed in New York in 1760 2
Ferrin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Esteban Ferrin, who arrived in Peru in 1834 2
  • Peter Ferrin, aged 26, who arrived in Missouri in 1848 2

Canada Ferrin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ferrin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Ferrin, who landed in Canada in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Ferrin (post 1700) +

  • Chariton Arnold "Arnie" Ferrin Jr. (1925-2022), American NBA basketball player, executive, and college athletics administrator, inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008
  • Jennifer Ferrin (b. 1979), American actress from Lawrenceville, Georgia
  • James P. Ferrin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Concord 1st Ward, 1948; Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Concord 1st Ward, 1956;
  • Enos Ferrin, American politician, Member of New Hampshire Governor's Council, 1846-48
  • Augustin William Ferrin (1875-1976), American politician, U.S. Consul in Madrid, 1924-26; Tabriz, 1926-28; Teheran, 1928-30; Malaga, 1930-35; Montevideo, 1935-38
  • Gino Ferrin (1947-1990), retired German former football manager who managed from 1990 to 1997 and former player who played from 1969 to 1979


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)


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