Contents [hide]

Farrel History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Farrel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Ireland

The Farrel surname comes from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Fearghail, which means "a valiant warrior." 1

Early Origins of the Farrel family

The surname Farrel was first found in Leinster, where they were found mainly in County Longford.

Feargal, Prince of Annaly appears number 105 on the "Line of Ir" descendants. Ir was the fifth son of Milesius of Spain. This Feargal was slain fighting on the aide of Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. However, some writers doubt this claim.

From this progenitor, rose O'Farrell Ban, O'Farrell of Rathline, O'Farrell, the Chiefs of Clanhugh, O'Farrell of Mugh Treagha, O'Farrell of Kenagh and O'Farrell, Chiefs of Clanawley. 1

Early History of the Farrel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farrel research. Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1235, 1248 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Farrel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farrel Spelling Variations

Individual scribes in the Ireland during the Middle Ages would often record a person's name various ways. How the name was recorded depended on what that particular scribe believed the proper spelling for the name pronounced to him was. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the Farrel family name include Ferrell, Farrell, O'Ferrall, O'Farrell, Farrelly, Fraleigh, Frawley, Frahill and many more.

Early Notables of the Farrel family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Jean François Ferrel, a musician in Paris about the middle of the 17th century, wrote a small pamphlet 'A savoir que les maistres de dance, qui sont de vrays maistres larrons à...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Farrel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farrel Ranking

In the United States, the name Farrel is the 18,237^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Farrel migration to the United States +

The English-ruled Ireland of the late 18th and 19th centuries featured a rapidly increasing population and an agricultural-based economy. This combination proved to be disastrous in the 1840s after a couple of failed potato harvests. Thousands died of disease and starvation, and thousands more left the country, often bound for North America. Those that survived the journey to North America were put to work building the bridges, canals, roadways, and railways needed for the development of an industrial society. Those Irish, although often despised by those already established in North American cities and towns, played an instrumental role in making Canada and the United States the powerful and wealthy nations that they are today. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has shown many immigrants bearing the name Farrel:

Farrel Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Garret Farrel, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 3
Margarett Farrel, who landed in Virginia in 1663 3

Farrel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Morgan Farrel, who landed in Virginia in 1714 3
Robert Farrel, who arrived in New England in 1720 3
Michael Farrel, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772
Michael Farrel, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 3

Farrel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Farrel, aged 40, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 3
John Farrel, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 3
Anne Farrel, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 3
Edward Farrel, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 3
Jane Farrel, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Farrel migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Farrel Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Daniel Farrel, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Daniel Farrel, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752
Mr. John Farrel U.E., "Farrell, Faddle" born in New York, USA who settled in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec c. 1784 the South Mountain, Dundas County, Ontario married Sally Buck in 1788 they had 4 children 4

Farrel migration to Australia +

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

Farrel Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Margaret Farrel, (Follins), Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 11th February 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Thomas Farrel, aged 38, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Navarino" 6
Mary Farrel, aged 14, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Navarino" 6

Farrel migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Farrel Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Farrel, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865
Eliza Farrel, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ernestina" in 1865

Contemporary Notables of the name Farrel (post 1700) +

Thomas F. Farrel Jr., American engineering officer killed in the war, eponym of the USAPRS Thomas F. Farrel, Jr
Franklin "Frank" Farrel III (1908-2003), American silver medalist ice hockey player at the 1932 Winter Olympics
Alton Farrel (1879-1934), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ansonia, 1905-06; Member of Connecticut State Senate 17th District, 1907-08 7
Kiki Farrel (b. 1986), Indonesian actor
Adrian Farrel, British co-founder of Aria Networks Ltd, Chippenham, United Kingdom

Historic Events for the Farrel family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. John Farrel, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 8

The Farrel 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: Cu reabtha
Motto Translation: The rampaging dog.

Citations +

O'Hart, John, Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth-and-henry
South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Navarino 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/navarino1857.shtml
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html