Farrell

Meaning and origin

The last name Farrell is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Fearghal", meaning 'man of valor' or 'courageous'. The name was commonly anglicized to Farrell during the 17th and 18th centuries, reflecting the phonetic approximation of the Irish Gaelic pronunciation.

The longer story

The last name Farrell is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word "fearghal," which means "man of valor." The name originated as a patronymic, meaning it was based on the name of the father or ancestor. In this case, the surname indicates that the person was the son of Fearghal or a descendant of someone named Fearghal.

The surname Farrell is primarily found in Ireland, particularly in the provinces of Leinster, Ulster, and Connacht. The name migrated to other parts of the world, including the United States, due to Irish emigration during various periods of history.

In the United States, the name Farrell is fairly common but not as widely used as some other Irish surnames. It is most commonly found in states with significant Irish-American populations, such as New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The original Irish spelling of the name, "Ó Fearghail," is sometimes used as well.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.