Show ContentsFarley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Farley is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Farley which was in several counties including Berkshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire, and Staffordshire. The surname Farley is an habitation name, which form a broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. Farley was originally derived from a pre-existing name for a town, village, parish, or farmstead.

Early Origins of the Farley family

The surname Farley was first found in Somerset where the first record of the family was Adam Farlegh who was listed there during the reign of Edward III. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Jacob de Farlegh in Wiltshire and Hugh de Farleye in Suffolk. 1

Early History of the Farley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farley research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1182, 1332, 1636, 1659 and 1714 are included under the topic Early Farley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farley Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Farley has been spelled many different ways, including Farley, Farleigh and others.

Early Notables of the Farley family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Farley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farley Ranking

In the United States, the name Farley is the 826th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Farley family to Ireland

Some of the Farley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Farley migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Farleys to arrive in North America:

Farley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Farley, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Anne" 3
  • Mrs. Jane Farley, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Anne" 3
  • John Farley, who settled in Charlestown Massachusetts in 1630
  • John Farley, who settled in New England in 1637
  • George Farley, who arrived in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1639 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Farley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Farley, who arrived in America in 1765 3
  • William Farley, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 3
Farley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Farley, who arrived in America in 1801 3
  • Margaret Farley, who settled in New Castle Del. in 1804
  • Margaret Farley, aged 20, who landed in New Castle, Del in 1804 3
  • Terrence Farley, who arrived in New York, NY in 1810 3
  • John Farley, who landed in America in 1811 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Farley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Farley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Francis Farley, aged 8 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 2nd June 1847 4
  • Mrs. Margaret Farley, aged 66 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Covenanter" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 4
  • Mrs. Mary Farley, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Pursuit" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
  • Mr. William Farley, aged 17 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
  • Miss. Bridget Farley who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Minerva" departing 17th June 1847 from Galway, Ireland; the ship arrived on 14th August 1847 but she died on board 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Farley migration to Australia +

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

Farley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Henry Farley, English convict from Sussex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Mr. William Farley, English convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for life, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 7
  • Mr. Michael Farley, (b. 1808), aged 23, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Cavan, Ireland for life for arson, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 5th November 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. Thomas Farley, (b. 1810), aged 21, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Cavan, Ireland for life for arson, transported aboard the "Captain Cook" on 5th November 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. Joseph Farley, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Farley 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:

Farley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. E. Farley, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Glenmark" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 12th December 1868 10
  • Henry Farley, aged 26, a coachman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Edinburgh" in 1873
  • John William Farley, aged 43, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waimea" in 1876
  • Betsy Farley, aged 40, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waimea" in 1876
  • Rosa Farley, aged 10, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waimea" in 1876
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Farley (post 1700) +

  • Donald Thorn Farley Jr. (1933-2018), American physicist, J. Preston Levis Professor of Engineering at Cornell University
  • William W. Farley (1874-1952), American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Broome County Democratic Party, 1910; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1912, 1920, 1924; Candidate for New York State Attorney General, 1916
  • William J. Farley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 1936, 1940; Treasurer of Connecticut Democratic Party, 1940-41
  • Wilbur Farley, American Republican politician, Chair of Summers County Republican Party, 1983
  • W. I. Farley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1916
  • Tom Farley, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arizona, 2008
  • Thomas P. Farley, American Republican politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 10th District, 1961-66
  • Timothy Farley, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for California, 1996; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996
  • Thomas M. Farley, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1930
  • Rush Floyd Farley (b. 1887), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Mingo County, 1941-42
  • ... (Another 68 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Cornwall
  • Walter Farley (d. 1942), British Able Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 11
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Walter Farley (d. 1945), British Marine aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 12
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. William George Farley, British Petty Officer Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 13
  • Mr. Reginald Farley, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 13
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Thomas Farley, British Petty Officer Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 14
HMS Royal Oak
  • Alfred J. Farley, British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 15
SS Atlantic
  • Mr. Thomas Farley, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
USS Indianapolis
  • James William Farley, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 16


Suggested Readings for the name Farley +

  • Francis Marion Farley and Lulu Cain Farley, Their Ancestors and Descendants by Lucille Farley Speer.

  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 27)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 75)
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/captain-cook
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  12. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  13. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  14. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  15. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  16. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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