Show ContentsPharr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Pharr Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Pharr

What does the name Pharr mean?

The ancient history of the name Pharr dates back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a nickname given to a person who was described as being fierce or lusty. Alternatively, the surname is derived from the Old English word "farr," which meant "bull." 1 Finally the name could have originated in Scotland at Farr (meaning passage), in Sutherland. 2 3

Early Origins of the Pharr family

The surname Pharr 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 Hundredorum Rolls (Rotuli Hundredorum) c. 1272 list Walter Fere of England. 4

Early History of the Pharr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pharr research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1381, 1400, 1741, 1765, 1767, 1780, 1795, 1807, 1883 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Pharr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pharr Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Pharr were recorded, including Farr, Farre and others.

Early Notables of the Pharr family

Samuel Farr (1741-1795), English physician, born at Taunton, Somersetshire, in 1741. His parents were Protestant dissenters. He was educated first at the Warrington Academy, then at Edinburgh, and finally at Leyden University, where he took the degree of M.D. (1765). He was a physician to the Bristol Infirmary from 1767 to 1780, and practised for...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pharr Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pharr Ranking

the United States, the name Pharr is the 5,730th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Pharr family to Ireland

Some of the Pharr 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.

Migration of the Pharr family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Pharr family emigrate to North America: Barnabas Farr who settled in New England in 1620; Edward Farr settled in St. Christopher in 1635; Elias Farr settled in West New Jersey in 1664; Mary Farr settled in Virginia in 1650.

Contemporary Notables of the name Pharr (post 1700) +

  • Suzanne Pharr, American organizer, political strategist, and author
  • Susan J. Pharr (b. 1944), American academic in the field of political science
  • Ralph Pharr, American politician, Circuit Judge in Georgia Atlanta Circuit, 1953 6
  • Kellie Pharr, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Georgia, 2008 7
  • Henry Neal Pharr (b. 1865), American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate, 1903-04, 1907-12, 1913-14 (25th District 1903-04, 1907-12, 24th District 1913-14) 7
  • E. W. Pharr, American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Mecklenburg County, 1921-22 7
  • Doug Pharr, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2008 7
  • Betty Pharr, American politician, Representative from Mississippi 4th District, 2000 7
  • Coburn Pharr (1963-2025), singer and heavy metal musician, vocals for Omen (1987-1989), lead vocals for Annihilator (1989-1992)
  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. 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)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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