Farrow is a hypercorrected form of Ferror (''Farrar''), an occupational surname for a blacksmith or an ironworker, an old name of early Medieval English and French origin. The name derives from the

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

and Old French terms "ferrer, ferreor, ferrur, ferour" (meaning "smith"), derivatives of "fer" (meaning "

iron Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in f ...

" in French), from the Latin "ferrum". The development of the surname shows the usual Medieval English change in pronunciation (and thence spelling) from "-er" to "-ar" and "-ow" endings. Due to varying levels of literacy, and regional dialects the name morphs back and forth from Farrar, Pharo, Farra, Ferrar, Farrer, and Farrow, the name itself did not change, but the spelling of it depended upon the

scrivener A scrivener (or scribe) was a person who could read and write or who wrote letters to court and legal documents. Scriveners were people who made their living by writing or copying written material. This usually indicated secretarial and admini ...

. The surname is found, in England, originally in those areas in which there were deposits of iron and thus an iron producing industry. Bearers of the surname belong to various haplogroups including E-M2, I-M233, I-M253,J-M172, R-M269, R-YP5578

Notable people

*Alan Farrow (born 1962), American swimming coach * Amariah Farrow (born 1980), professional football player in the Canadian Football League * Bill Farrow (1918–2003), American professional basketball player * Brad Farrow (born 1956), Canadian judoka *

Dave Farrow David Andrew Farrow (born January 10, 1975) is a two-time Canadian Guinness World Record Holder for Most Decks of Playing Cards Memorized in a Single Sighting, entrepreneur, memory coach, speed reader and keynote speaker. He is best known for ...

, Guinness World Records holder for memory *

David Farrow Maxwell David Farrow Maxwell (November 7, 1900 – October 1985) was the eightieth president of the American Bar Association. Maxwell urged Congress to enact a measure that would grant tax advantages to self-employed lawyers and others who desire to set ...

(1900–1985), eightieth president of the American Bar Association * Elizabeth Farrow (1926–2010), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player *

Ernie Farrow Ernest Farrow (November 13, 1928 – July 14, 1969) was a jazz bassist who occasionally played other instruments. His half-sister was Alice Coltrane. Early life Farrow was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on November 13, 1928. He started on pia ...

(1928–1969), American jazz multi-instrumentalist *

George Farrow George Henry Farrow (4 October 1913 – 1980) was an English professional footballer. He played for six clubs in a seventeen-year professional career. In the years before, during and after World War II, Blackpool were one of the most powerfu ...

(1913–1980), English footballer *

Graham Farrow Graham Ronald Farrow is an English playwright and screenwriter from North Yorkshire; living in Yarm, born in Middlesbrough, and educated at Scarborough College. His first novel, ''Speak no Evil'', was nominated for the 1989 Commonwealth Writer's ...

(born 1965), English playwright and screenwriter *

Jake Farrow James A. "Jake" Farrow (born October 18, 1972) is an American television writer and actor. He wrote for Fox's ''Arrested Development'' and two shows on The WB: ''Off Centre'' and '' What I Like About You''. He later worked as a writer and produc ...

(born 1978), television writer and actor * James Farrow (politician) (1827–1892), 19th century politician *

Jane Farrow Jane Farrow is a Canadian author and broadcaster and community organizer. Her written works include ''Wanted Words'', ''Wanted Words 2'', and (with Ira Basen, David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace) the ''Canadian Book of Lists''. She worked for CBC ...

, Canadian author and broadcaster * Jo Farrow, British broadcast meteorologist *

John Farrow (baseball) John Jacob Farrow (November 8, 1853 – December 31, 1914), also known as Jack, was an American Major League Baseball player who played catcher in two seasons in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, and one season in th ...

(1853–1914), also known as Jack, American Major League Baseball player *

John Farrow John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS (10 February 190427 January 1963) was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...

(1904–1963), Australian film director * John Farrow (author), pen name of Trevor Ferguson (born 1947), Canadian novelist * Jonathan Farrow (born 1984), English cricketer *

Joseph Farrow Joseph Farrow (1652?–1692), was a nonconformist clergyman. Life Farrow was born at Boston, Lincolnshire, of ‘religious parents,’ and educated at the grammar school of that town. He was afterwards entered at Magdalene College, Cambridge, as a ...

(c. 1652–1692), English cleric * Kenneth Farrow (1924–2007), English Police officer and recipient of the George Cross *

Kenneth Farrow (American football) Kenneth Farrow II (born March 7, 1993) is an American football running back for the Arlington Renegades of the XFL. He played college football at Houston and signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2016. College career ...

(born 1993), American football player *

Margaret Farrow Margaret Ann Farrow (; November 28, 1934 – March 8, 2022) was an American Republican politician who was the 42nd lieutenant governor of Wisconsin (the first woman to hold the office) and also served in both houses of the state legislature. E ...

(1934-2022), American politician from Wisconsin *

Mark Farrow Mark Farrow was named Designer of the Year in the Creative Review Peer Poll in 2004, voting him ‘the most important graphic designer working today’. His career began in the early 1980s designing experimental sleeves and posters for Factory Reco ...

, graphic designer *

Mia Farrow Maria de Lourdes Villiers "Mia" Farrow ( ; born February 9, 1945) is an American actress. She first gained notice for her role as Allison MacKenzie in the television soap opera '' Peyton Place'' and gained further recognition for her subsequent ...

(born 1945), American actress *

Nigel Farrow Nigel Farrow (born 24 November 1963) was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman who played for Buckinghamshire. He was born in Cookham. Farrow, who made many Second XI appearance for Northamptonshire in 1983, and who represented Buc ...

(born 1963), English cricketer *

Prudence Farrow Prudence Anne Villiers Farrow Bruns (born January 20, 1948) is an American author, meditation teacher, and film producer. She is the daughter of film director John Farrow and actress Maureen O'Sullivan and younger sister of actress Mia Farrow. Fa ...

(born 1948), American actress *

Ronan Farrow Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow (born December 19, 1987) is an American journalist. The son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen, he is best known for his investigative reporting of allegations of sexual abuse against film producer H ...

(born 1987), American human rights activist, son of Woody Allen and actress Mia Farrow *

Samuel Farrow Samuel Farrow (June 8, 1762November 18, 1824) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina. Born in Prince William County in the Colony of Virginia in 1762, Farrow moved to South Carolina with his father's family, who settled in Spartanburg ...

(1775–1824), American politician from South Carolina *

Stuart Farrow Stuart Farrow is a South African politician, the former Shadow Minister of Transport, and a Member of Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). He is also one of the party's parliamentary whips. Background Farrow was born in Umta ...

, South African politician * Thomas Farrow (1833–1916), Canadian merchant and political figure *

Tisa Farrow Theresa Magdalena "Tisa" Farrow is a retired United States, American actress and model. Early life Farrow was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Irish-born actress Maureen O'Sullivan and Australian-born film director John Farrow. S ...

(born 1951), American actress * William G. Farrow (1918–1942), American pilot on the Doolittle Raid in the Second World War *William L Farrow (1771–1846) American Pioneer-Soldier-Statesman * William Hastings Farrow (1893–1946), British flying ace in the First World War

References

{{surname, Farrow English-language surnames

Notable people

See also

References