Surname Farnan - Meaning and Origin

Farnan: What does the surname Farnan mean?

The surname Farnan is of Irish origin and has two accepted interpretations. It can be derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Fearnáin which means "descendant of Fearnán". Fearnán can have a few meanings including man of alder trees, or perhaps referring to those who were skilled in ceremonial oration.

Alternatively, Farnan could come from the Olde English word "fearn" meaning fern. This interpretation could refer to a family living in a fern-dotted area, or a family with a coat of arms bearing a fern.

The Farnan surname can be found in the Irish counties of Cork and Clare, but is particularly scarce in most of Ireland. In other parts of the world, the surname may have been somewhat anglicised from written or spoken versions of Ó Fearnáin.

Regardless of its exact origin, the last name Farnan has come to represent a vibrant family with a strong sense of identity. The family name usually conjures up images of love, loyalty and ancestry, of strong family bonds and shared history.

Farnan: Where does the name Farnan come from?

The surname Farnan is quite common today, with many people bearing the name in countries around the world. It is most commonly found in the United States, with the largest concentration of Farnans being in the state of Illinois. According to the 1990 United States Census, the surname was the 70th most common surname in the United States at the time.

Additionally, Farnan is also very common in the Republic of Ireland. In Irish records, it is listed as the 42nd most common surname - likely due to the high rate of Irish emigration to the United States. Besides these two locations, the surname is also found in smallish numbers in England, Canada, and Australia, with large Irish populations in all of those countries.

The surname Farnan is derived from the Irish name Ó Fearghnaigh, which in turn was taken from the old Irish name Fearghal. This was used as a name for the distant ancestor of the majority of modern bearers of the surname. The word Fearghal itself is thought to be a combination of two words- Fear, meaning man, and gal, or brave. Thus, the surname Farnan can be thought of as meaning sprited man.

Variations of the surname Farnan

The surname Farnan is a popular Irish surname. It is derived from the Irish word ‘fearann', meaning land or territory. The variants of Farnan include Farnon, Fearnon, Fournier, and Fearnaugh. In Australia, Farnan is often spelled Farnham.

In the United States, the Farnan surname is found primarily in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. It can also be found in some parts of the UK and Ireland. In the UK, Farnan is typically spelled Farran and in Ireland it is spelled Fearnaun.

In some cases, the surname Farnan can be confused with other similar-sounding surnames, such as Farren, Farnham, and Farrington. However, each of the aforementioned variants has different origins.

Farnans who migrated to other countries often took the spelling of their original surnames with them. This means that the surname Farnan can be found in various spellings all over the world.

The surnames Farnon, Fournier, and Fearnaugh can all be traced back to Farnan. Each of these surnames has its own distinct origin and variations on how they are spelled. For example, Fearnaugh is derived from the Gaelic phrase “fear naodhach”, meaning holy place or sacred site.

Farnans have made their mark in many different places in different ways. painters, musicians, entrepreneurs, and even politicians. While the spelling of the surname may have changed, the heritage and history of the Farnan family remains the same.

Famous people with the name Farnan

• Joe Farnan: English singer-songwriter from East London, best known for his singles “Where Do We Go from Here?” and “Take It or Leave it”.
• Brady Farnan: American actor and comedian known for his roles in films such as “The Unassuming” and television shows such as “Modern Family”.
• Ryan Farnan: American Olympic skeleton racer who won two silver medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
• Dave Farnan: Australian competitive shooter who has won multiple world championships and set numerous world records.
• Nicky Farnan: English actor and singer who is best known for her role in the musical “Legally Blonde the Musical”.
• Julianne Farnan: American professional stunt woman and actress who is known for her work on “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “The Hunger Games”.
• Brian Farnan: Canadian astronomer and professor at the University of Western Ontario, best known for his research on quasars.
• Barry Farnan: English professional football player and manager who played more than 250 times for Blackpool FC in the 1970s.
• Davey Farnan: Irish professional rugby league player who played for the Widnes Vikings.
• Tom Farnan: American track and field athlete who is a two-time NCAA shot put champion.

Other surnames

Farnam