Show ContentsFerrand History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ferrand comes from the ancient Norman culture that was established in Britain after the Conquest of 1066. It was a name for a person with gray hair, or who habitually dressed in gray. Checking further we found the name was derived from the Old French word, ferrant, which means gray (a reference to the color of iron). Another derivation suggests that the name is a corruption of Ferrant, the Old French form of Ferdinand. Time has confused the different derivations, and it is now extremely difficult to tell which is appropriate in a given situation.

Early Origins of the Ferrand family

The surname Ferrand was first found in Yorkshire where they were granted lands by William the Conqueror and appointed to the Wardenship of Skipton Castle, for the Cliffords, the chief tenants shown in the Domesday Book. They were under the protection and patronage of the ancient Earl of Albermarle.

Early History of the Ferrand family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ferrand research. Another 175 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1651 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Ferrand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferrand Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Ferrant, Ferrand, Ferand, Ferrante and others.

Early Notables of the Ferrand family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Edward Ferrand of Barnard Castle

Ferrand Ranking

In France, the name Ferrand is the 232nd most popular surname with an estimated 15,485 people with that name. 1


Ferrand migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, travelling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Ferrand or a variant listed above:

Ferrand Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jean Ste Ferrand, who landed in Louisiana in 1718 2
  • Jean Bte Ferrand, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 2
  • Laurens Ferrand, aged 50, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 2
  • Laurent Ferrand, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 2
  • Charles Ferrand, who arrived in Louisiana in 1756
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ferrand Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Benjamin Ferrand, aged 25, settled in New York in 1812
  • Benjamin F Ferrand, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • Benjamin F. Ferrand, who settled in Philadelphia in 1815
  • Benjamin Ferrand, who settled in Philadelphia in 1815
  • J. Ferrand, aged 30, settled in New Orleans in 1823
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferrand migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ferrand Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • George Ferrand, who settled in Ottawa in 1825

Ferrand migration to Australia +

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

Ferrand Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Ferrand, English convict who was convicted in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th March 1863, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Ferrand (post 1700) +

  • Pauline Ferrand -Prévot (b. 1992), French cyclist and gold medalist in the 2024 Summer Olympics
  • Édouard Ferrand (1965-2018), French politician, member of National Front
  • Jean-Louis Ferrand, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 4
  • Jean Henri Becays Ferrand, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 5
  • Jacques Ferrand, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 6
  • William Busfeild Ferrand (1809-1889), British Conservative politician
  • Jean Henri Becays Ferrand (1736-1805), French general officer early in the French Revolutionary Wars
  • Pierre Ferrand, French Doctor, past Deputy
  • Louis Henri Marie Ferrand, Archbishop, Knight of the Legion of Honour, Tours, France
  • Jean Ferrand, Academic, Lebanonese Lawyer, Knight of the Legion of Honour


The Ferrand 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: Justus propositi tenax
Motto Translation: The just is firm of purpose.


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
  4. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 4) Jean-Louis Ferrand. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  5. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 4) Jean Ferrand. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html
  6. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 4) Jacques Ferrand. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


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