Ferrell
Ferrell is a surname of Irish origin which comes from the Irish Ó Fearghail.[1] Although there is some speculation of the exact definition, the original Irish Gaelic spelling is Ó Fearghail, and is most commonly believed to mean "Man of Valor."
Another variant Farrell being associated with Longford and the rulers of Annaly.[2]
The English pronunciation of the name is different, and has many different spellings. Some of which has been falsely attributed to the urban legend of some "common mistakes made by employees of Ellis Island Immigration". This legend claims that immigration employees were not accustomed to ask one the spelling of a common name, but simply wrote it down as it was perceived to be spelled.
This could not have happened in this case, as the name Ferrell (and its variants) were very well known in American history (and court records) by the year 1890 when the first Federal Immigration Station was founded on Ellis Island .
| Pronunciation | /ˈfɛrəl/ FERR-əl |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Gaelic |
| Meaning | presumably "man of valor" |
| Region of origin | Ireland |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Ferrall, Ferrel, Ferrell, Ferrill, Ferroll, Farrell, Farrelly. |
The Ferrell surname documentation in America extends to at least the year 1701 A.D. in a ships passenger list of a Jane Ferril (1701) arriving in New York.
Ferrell (Farrell, Ferril, Ferrel, et al.) was a common name in the American regions of Virginia and North Carolina by the 1730s. There were many Ferrell patriots in the American Revolution, the rosters of the "Southern Campaigns of The American Revolution" list at least a dozen southern patriot Ferrell surnames (and variants) serving from 1775 to 1783. The Daughters Of The American Revolution (DAR) list many revolutionary war period Ferrell surnames in their hereditary documents, and even as names of their DAR Local Chapters.
The surname Ferrell, Ferrel, Ferril (et al.) is also very abundant in the rosters of both the Union and Confederate States Armies of 1861-1865.
The English spelling (aka: anglicised )of the Ferrell, Ferrel, Farrell, Farrel, Ferroll, Ferrill, Ferril, Farrelly, Fraleigh, Frawley, Frahill as well as many others can be found in land and court records from England and America as far back in time as at least the late 16th century.
Ferrell may refer to:
- John H. Ferrell (1829–1900), American, Union Navy 1865, awarded Medal Of Honor
- Andy Ferrell (1984), English footballer
- Clelin Ferrell (born 1997), American football player
- Conchata Ferrell (1943–2020), American actress
- Jami Ferrell (born 1974), American model
- Mary Ferrell (1922–2004), American historian
- Rachelle Ferrell (born 1964), American singer
- Rick Ferrell (1905–1995), American baseball player
- Robert H. Ferrell (1921–2018), American historian
- Rod Ferrell (born 1980), American convicted murderer
- Scott Ferrall (born 1965), American radio host
- Tyra Ferrell (born 1962), American actress
- Wes Ferrell (1908–1976), American baseball player
- Will Ferrell (born 1967), American comedian and actor
- Yvonne Farrell (born 1951), Irish architect and academic founded Grafton Architects with Shelley McNamara