Farrell
Ó Fearghail · descendant of Fearghal
Farrell is Ó Fearghail in Irish, said oh FAR-il, and means descendant of Fearghal.
Fearghal means man of valour, from fear, a man, and gal, valour. The family held Longford so completely that the county was called Annaly after their territory.
How it changes
- A man: Ó Fearghail
- His daughter: Ní Fhearghail
- A woman who married into it: Bean Uí Fhearghail
- The family together: Uí Fhearghail
Where it comes from
Longford, the kingdom of Annaly
Also spelt
Farrell, O’Farrell, Ferrall, Farrelly
A name, not a pedigree
This is where the name came from, which is not the same as where you came from. Names were translated, anglicised, taken on by tenants and neighbours, and carried in by settlers who were no relation to the family that started them. To follow your own line, the 1901 and 1911 censuses are free and searchable, and give the county each person was born in.