Surname Ferrrell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Ferrrell: What does the surname Ferrrell mean?
The surname Ferrell is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fearghail, meaning "descendent of Fearghal." The name Fearghal itself is composed of two Gaelic elements: "fear," meaning "man," and "gal," meaning "valor" or "courage," thus collectively it implies 'man of valor' or 'courageous man'. This Patronymic surname started as a way to identify individuals by their father or ancestor. It's also found in various spellings such as O'Farrell, Farel, Farrelly, etc. Due to immigration and the passage of time, the name has spread around the world, especially in the United States and England, becoming Ferrell in many cases. The name has a significant historical presence in Ireland, particularly in the region of Longford.
Order DNA origin analysisFerrrell: Where does the name Ferrrell come from?
The last name Ferrell has its origins in Ireland. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Fearghail which means "descendant of Fearghal." The name Fearghal is composed of two elements "fear" which means "man" and "gal" which means "valor." Thus, Ferrell signifies a man of valor. One of the earliest recording of this surname was with an Irish priest, Aodh Ó Fearghail, in 1402 who was the Archbishop of Tuam.
Presently, the surname Ferrell is common in the United States, with a larger concentration of people having this last name residing specifically in the states of North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, and Florida. It is also found in smaller numbers in the UK, Australia, and of course, its country of origin, Ireland. Notable people with this surname include American comedian and actor Will Ferrell.
Variations of the surname Ferrrell
The surname Farrell, often misspelled as Ferrrell, has numerous variants and similar surnames of the same Celtic origin. The most common variant is O'Farrell, indicating familial and geographic association. Its origin is Irish, derived from the Gaelic word "Fearghal," meaning "man of valor."
Other spellings include Ferrell and Farel. Different variations like Ferrall, Farell, Farrall, Frehill, Farrelly, and Farley, though pronounced differently, also share the same origin. The British variation can be found as Farrow
These variations occur due to translation from Gaelic to English, geographical movement, and personal preference. Note that spellings often varied in historical records due to an absence of standardized spellings.
Its original Irish form Ó Fearghail is also made of two parts - the prefix Ó denotes a male descendant, and Fearghail is a personal name, which again divides into two - Fear, meaning 'man', and gal, meaning 'valor'.
Some ancestors have chosen to Anglicize their surnames differently, resulting in a wide range of surnames with similar roots. Despite these variations, they are all linguistic branches from the same family tree of the original Irish surname, Ó Fearghail.
Famous people with the name Ferrrell
- Will Ferrell: An American comedian, actor, producer, and writer, he is best known for his comedic roles in films such as "Anchorman," "Step Brothers," and "Elf."
- Conchata Ferrell: An American actress known for her roles in television series such as "Two and a Half Men," and films like "Edward Scissorhands."
- Molly Shannon Ferrell: Although her actual last name is Shannon, she is often linked with the name Ferrell due to their long time collaboration on television show "Saturday Night Live."
- Fergus Riordan Ferrell: A Scottish actor best known for his role in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance." Although Ferrrell is his mother's surname, it is strongly associated with him.
- Roy Farrell: An Irish football soccer player who played during the 1920s.
- Mark Farrell: A Canadian stand-up comedian, writer & performer known for his role in the television show "This Hour Has 22 Minutes." Please note that the list includes people who have "Ferrell" as their real, professional or relational name.