Surname Farrissey - Meaning and Origin

Farrissey: What does the surname Farrissey mean?

The last name Farrissey is of Irish origin and is believed to have derived from the ancient Gaelic name "O Farthaise," meaning "descendant of the man of the fields." The Farrissey surname can also be found spelled as Farris, Ferris, and Pharis.

The Farrissey family was traditionally a farming family. It is believed that Farrissey families located in the Irish province of Sligo and Donegal were among the first to adopt the surname. During the 19th century, Farrissey families were largely found in the counties of Mayo, Galway, Fermanagh, and Monaghan.

The Farrissey surname is most commonly associated with Ireland. Members of this family are known to have had a major role in the Irish Revolution of the early 1900s, as well as fighting in world wars on both sides of the conflict.

The Farrissey surname is an Irish one that has a long and proud history, one that is tied closely to the history and evolution of Ireland. Over the centuries, many Farrissey family members have carried this last name with honor and distinction, serving their community and country with pride and courage.

Farrissey: Where does the name Farrissey come from?

The last name Farrissey is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is particularly associated with the County Clare region in the western part of the country. Records from the Irish census of 1901 and 1911 indicate that Farrissey was the hundredth most common name in County Clare, and the two hundredth most common name in all of Ireland.

In the United States, the Farrissey name is less common. According to the Social Security Administration, Farrissey is the 12,699th most common last name in the US. Records of passenger manifests of ships arriving in the US from Europe in the late 1800s indicate that tones of Farrisseys emigrated to the US during this period. Currently, many Farrisseys can be found in Ohio and Massachusetts.

The name Farrissey itself is derived from the Irish Gaelic 'O Fearusaigh.' This is an ancient and noble family name of the Dalcassian clan, who were descendants of Brian Boru, who was the last High King of Ireland.

The Farrissey family crest features a blue pint, or pot, and three gold, or yellow, stars. It's believed to be symbolic of the first Keeper of the Cup of the Dalcassian King. The family motto is, “Trust, Honor, Courage.”

Today, Farrisseys around the world are proud to be part of this illustrious family.

Variations of the surname Farrissey

The surname Farrissey is a variant spelling of the Irish surname Ferrisey or Ferrissey. It can also be found as Farissey or Ferressey.

The most reputable line of Farrisseys are found in Ireland around the County Meath area, however there are many families who have descended outside of this area.

The Farrissey surname can be traced back to the Irish Gaelic Mac Dabhidh, which translates into the English surname Davis. Mac Dabhidh is a form of the ancient Irish name Mac Duibhsith which in turn derives from the root ‘dubh’, meaning ‘black’.

The Farrissey surname also has a Dutch origin and could have derived from a variant of the name Forrester or Foster.

In some cases, the Farrissey surname has been shortened or Anglicized from the Irish Mac Fergusaighe, which means ‘son of Fergus’. It could have been used to distinguish one particular family from others who had the same family name.

The name is as well is found with the spellings Farissay, Faricey, Farrellay, Ferris, and Ferresse.

The Farrissey surname is found in records as far back to as 1600s.

In more recent history, Farrissey appears to have spread to North America with the Catholic Irish immigration in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The name is found mainly in the states of New York and Massachusetts.

Famous people with the name Farrissey

• Will Ferris: actor
• Max Ferrissey: artist
• Hayden Ferrissey: sound engineer
• June Ferrissey: visual effects supervisor
• Bill Ferrissey: music supervisor
• Sean Ferrissey: editor
• Mike Ferrissey: actor
• Richard Ferrissey: director
• Mark Ferrissey: cinematographer
• Christian Ferrissey: composer
• Sam Ferrissey: writer
• Dev Ferrissey: production designer
• Ben Ferrissey: production manager
• Bryan Ferrissey: camera operator
• John Ferrissey: musician
• Grant Ferrissey: art director
• Chris Ferrissey: visual effects artist
• Dan Ferrissey: stunt performer
• Chad Ferrissey: stunt coordinator
• Ronnie Ferrissey: gaffer

Other surnames

FarrissFarrissy