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Farnall is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Farnall family once lived by a fern-covered hill. The name is both a surname and a place-name, and is derived from the Old English elements fearn, for fern, and hyll, the word for hill. 1 Alternatively, another source notes that the surname denotes a "dweller at the Fern Slope or Corner [Old English fearn + heal(h)] for Farnhill." 2
The surname Farnall was first found in East Cheshire at Fernhill, or at Farnhill in West Riding of Yorkshire or at Farnell Wood in Kent. Some of the first records of the name include: Richard de Farenhull in 1214; William de Fernhulle in 1263 and Hugh de la Fernhull in 1275; John de Farnhull, listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273; and William atte Farnhulle in 1298. 1
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farnall research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1246 and 1379 are included under the topic Early Farnall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Farnall family name include Farnell, Farnel, Farnall, Farnyll, Farnill and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Farnall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.