Farmer Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Farmer Name Meaning: From Middle English & Old French 'ferm(i)er', one who collected taxes, revenues & imposts.

These first 'farmers' acted as brokers for major landowners or the crown & selected applicants to work the tenanted lands. Not applied to an owner of cultivated land until the 17th century.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Farmer Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Farmer family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,658
Agricultural Labourer 212
Domestic Servant 101
Labourer 100
General Labourer 89
Coal Miner 85
General Servant 74
Dress Maker 58
Farm Labourer 56
Laundress 54
Annuitant 42
Carpenter 39
No Occupation 39
General Servant Domestic 32
Gardener 25
Bricklayer 23
Charwoman 23
House Keeper 22
Shoe Maker 22
Servant 21
Errand Boy 20
Farmers Son 20
Labourer Wife 19
Stone Mason 18
Farmer 18

Farmer Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Farmer 100% 64,933
2 Fermor 67% 1,973
3 Farmar 83% 649
4 Fermer 83% 439
5 Framer 67% 388
6 Former 83% 323

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The surname Farmer is the most popular version of all its varients

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