Show ContentsFarre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Farre. It was given to a person who was described as being fierce or lusty. The surname is derived from the Old English word farr, which meant bull.

Early Origins of the Farre family

The surname Farre was first found in Yorkshire. While most researchers believe that the name is Anglo-Saxon in origin, we must not dismiss the possible Norman origin. For example, Radulphus Fere of Nomandy was listed there in 1180 and 1195 and the Rotuli Hundredorum (Hundred Rolls) c. 1272 list Walter Fere of England. 1

Early History of the Farre family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farre research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1381, 1400 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Farre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farre Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Farre has appeared include Farr, Farre and others.

Early Notables of the Farre family

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

Farre Ranking

In France, the name Farre is the 3,898th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Ireland Migration of the Farre family to Ireland

Some of the Farre family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Farre migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Farre arrived in North America very early:

Farre Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Farre, who landed in Maryland in 1672 3
  • Richard Farre, who landed in Virginia in 1696 3
Farre Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Farre, who arrived in Virginia in 1887 3

Australia Farre migration to Australia +

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

Farre Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Farre, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aden" in 1849 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Farre (post 1700) +

  • Juan Avilés Farré (1950-2023), Spanish historian and professor at the Spanish National University of Distance Education


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Aden from London via Plymouth Adealide Arriving September 12th 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AdenRegister.htm


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