Surname Farrow - Meaning and Origin

Farrow: What does the surname Farrow mean?

The surname Farrow is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an occupational name for someone who breeds or rears pigs—an important task in the Middle Ages due to the high demand for pork. It is derived from the Middle English term "farr," itself coming from the Old English pre 7th Century word "fearh," which means "pig." The surname could also be a topographic name for someone who lived in a furrow or a trench, from the Middle English "farewe". Over the centuries, there were various spellings of the surname including Farroe, Farrowe, Farro, Farrar, Farrough, and many more. The earliest records of this surname date back to the 12th century in various counties in England. The Farrow surname is widespread mainly in the East Anglia region of England and is also found in other English-speaking countries due to emigration.

Farrow: Where does the name Farrow come from?

The last name Farrow is of Anglo-Saxon origin, rooted in the Old English term "fearn", meaning "fern", used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a fern-covered area. Over time, "Fearn" evolved into variations like "Farrar" and "Farrow". The surname Farrow may also have roots in the Middle English term "farrow", referring to a litter of pigs. In this context, it may have been a nickname or occupational name for someone who looked after pigs.

Farrow is a relatively uncommon surname globally. According to Forebears.io, it is most prevalent in the United States, with over 12,000 bearers of the name. It is also common in England, the country of its origin, with approximately 6,000 people bearing the name. Besides the US and England, it also has significant presence in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, likely due to migration from England and the role of these countries in Britain's colonial history.

Variations of the surname Farrow

The surname Farrow has root in medieval English language. It's believed to be derived from the Old English pre 7th century term "fere", meaning a comrade or companion. It may have also originated from the term "fara", which refers to a traveler or journeyman. There are many variations and spellings of the name Farrow due to regional differences and phonetic spellings over time.

Alternate spellings and variants of Farrow include Faro, Faroe, Faireau, Fara, Pharoe, Pharo, or Farrar. Distinct spellings include Farraugh, Farrough, and Ferrow. Some surnames like Farrer, Farr, Fear or Fair are also thought to be variations of Farrow, even though these can have separate origins as well.

In some cases, the surname can be spelled as Pharaoh, resembling the biblically historical Egyptian title, which is an anglicized form of the Jewish surname Paro or Pharo, but it may not necessarily connect to the Farrow family lineage.

As far as geographical differences are concerned, Farrow is more commonly found in the United Kingdom particularly in counties of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire. In the United States, it's seen in Southern States like North Carolina and Virginia. The spellings of the surname can vary based on these geographical differences.

Famous people with the name Farrow

• Mia Farrow: An American actress and activist known for her roles in movies such as "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Great Gatsby".
• Dylan Farrow: An American actress and writer who is the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen. She accused Allen of sexual abuse, a case which generated significant media attention.
• Ronan Farrow: A Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and legal scholar. He is the biological son of actress Mia Farrow and director Woody Allen, although Mia later claimed that his biological father may actually be Frank Sinatra.
• John Farrow: An Australian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who won an Academy Award for Best Writing for the film, "Around the World in 80 Days". He was also the father of actresses Mia, Tisa, and Prudence Farrow.
• Tisa Farrow: an American actress, and the younger sister of Mia Farrow. She is best known for her roles in Italian horror films during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Prudence Farrow: Known for being the inspiration behind the Beatles song "Dear Prudence". She is the sister of Mia Farrow and middle child of John Farrow.
• Stephen Farrow: A British murderer who was convicted of two counts of murder in 2013. His case was notable due to his random targeting of victims.

Other surnames

Farrol