Show ContentsFairon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Fairon

What does the name Fairon mean?

The Irish surname Fairon is an Anglicization of a few different Gaelic names, such as "Ó Faracháin," "Ó Fearáin," and "Ó Forannáin." 1

Early Origins of the Fairon family

The surname Fairon 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 Fairon family

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

Fairon Spelling Variations

Within the archives researched, many different spelling variations of the surname Fairon were found. These included One reason for the many variations is that scribes and church officials often spelled an individual's name as it sounded. This imprecise method often led to many versions. Fearon, Feron, Feran, Farren and others.

Early Notables of the Fairon family

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

Migration of the Fairon family

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the Fairon family relocated to North American shores quite early: James Fearon, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806; George, followed by Robert Fearon, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1813; George and Henry Fearon arrived in Philadelphia during the Potato Famine in 1842 and 1848.



  1. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)


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