Show ContentsFarfan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Farfan family

The surname Farfan was first found in Northumberland where the name was derived from the Anglo Saxon words foegr and feax which collectively meant "fair-haired." [1]

"The true ancient family of Fairfax is supposed to be of Saxon origin, and to have been seated at Torcester in Northumberland a the period of the Conquest." [2] Shirley continues that the Yorkshire branch is perhaps more compelling, "In 1205, Richard Fairfax, the first of the family proved by evidence, was possessed of the lands of Ascahm, not far from the City of York. His grandson purchased the Manor of Walton in the West Riding, which continued for near six hundred years."

Fuller in his book "Worthies of England" adds, "in his time [c. 1600-1700], twenty generations of Fairfaxes had resided on one spot, at Walton, co. York." So while there is no doubt the family was originally from Lincolnshire, the Yorkshire branch proves to be the strongest. Another early record points to the string Yorkshire heritage. "Gilling Castle, situated in a fine park on the west of the village [of Gilling], was built by Alan, Earl of Richmond, to repel the frequent attacks of the Saxons and Danes for the recovery of their lost estates; it was afterwards the seat of the Mowbrays, and since the time of Henry VII. has belonged to the family of Fairfax. The church is an ancient edifice with a tower, and contains a vault belonging to the Fairfax family. " [3]

Early History of the Farfan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farfan research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1205, 1450, 1464, 1475, 1490, 1505, 1520, 1521, 1560, 1575, 1580, 1588, 1592, 1597, 1599, 1601, 1609, 1612, 1617, 1620, 1623, 1626, 1629, 1631, 1634, 1635, 1636, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1644, 1648, 1656, 1657, 1660, 1665, 1671, 1673, 1675, 1687, 1688, 1690, 1691, 1693, 1700, 1702, 1703, 1704, 1707, 1710, 1711, 1716, 1725, 1736, 1741, 1747, 1757, 1759, 1762, 1779, 1781, 1792, 1793, 1798, 1799, 1802 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Farfan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farfan Spelling Variations

Although the name, Farfan, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Fairfax, Fairfacks, Farefax, Fearfax, Ferfax, Furfax, Furfacks, Farefacks, Fearfacks and many more.

Early Notables of the Farfan family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Sir Thomas Fairfax (c.1450-1505) a direct ancestor of both Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge; Robert Fayrfax (1464-1521), an English Renaissance composer, his six masses, two Magnificats, thirteen motets, nine part-songs and two instrumental pieces survive. [4]Thomas Fairfax, 1st Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1560-1640), was an English soldier, diplomat and politician and his half-brother, Edward Fairfax (1580?-1635), was an English translator. Henry Fairfax (1588-1665), was an English priest and academic from Denton, Yorkshire; and Charles Fairfax (1597-1673), was an English antiquary and genealogist.Sir William Fairfax (1609-1644), was...
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Farfan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farfan Ranking

In the United States, the name Farfan is the 18,720th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]


United States Farfan migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Farfan family name Farfan, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Farfan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francisco Farfan, who arrived in America in 1810 [6]
  • Juan Farfan, who arrived in America in 1812 [6]
  • Jeronimo Farfan, who arrived in Cartagena in 1834 [6]
  • Bartolome Farfan, who arrived in Peru in 1834 [6]
  • Luis Farfan, who arrived in Peru in 1893 [6]

West Indies Farfan migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [7]
Farfan Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century
  • Diego Farfan, who arrived in Dominican Republic in 1838 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Farfan (post 1700) +

  • Gabriel Farfan (b. 1988), American soccer player
  • Michael Farfan (b. 1988), American soccer player
  • Juan Pablo Farfán (b. 1985), Peruvian footballer
  • Salvador Farfán (b. 1932), Mexican football midfielder
  • Rafael Nicanor Farfán Quispe (b. 1975), Peruvian football defender


The Farfan 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: Je le feray durant ma vie
Motto Translation: I will do it so long as I live.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Grove, Sir George, A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (AD. 1450-1889) London: Macmillan1902, Print, 2 Vols
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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