Explore the Family Name Ferrell
The meaning of Ferrell
1. Irish: variant of Farrell, from Ó Fearghail. 2. English: variant of Fairhall.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ferrell in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ferrell has seen a slight decrease in rank from 987 in 2000 to 1043 in 2010, indicating a change of -5.67%. However, the total count of individuals bearing this surname rose from 32,174 in 2000 to 33,418 in 2010, marking an increase of 3.87%. The proportion per 100k also saw a slight reduction of -5.03 from 11.93 in 2000 to 11.33 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #987 | #1,043 | -5.67% |
| Count | 32,174 | 33,418 | 3.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 11.93 | 11.33 | -5.03% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ferrell
Moving over to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census reveals that between the years 2000 and 2010, there were some notable shifts among those with the Ferrell surname. The Hispanic ethnicity showed the largest increase at 46.39%, growing from 1.66% to 2.43%. Additionally, those identifying with two or more ethnicities increased by 35.71%, and the proportion of Black identity experienced a modest boost of 4.95%. Meanwhile, the Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a rise of 17.14%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category witnessed a slight decline of -6.98%. The percentage of people with White ethnic identity dropped by -2.91%, but it remained the dominant ethnicity for the Ferrell surname, making up 74.71% of the total in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.95% | 74.71% | -2.91% |
| Black | 19.21% | 20.16% | 4.95% |
| Hispanic | 1.66% | 2.43% | 46.39% |
| Two or More Races | 1.4% | 1.9% | 35.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.35% | 0.41% | 17.14% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.43% | 0.4% | -6.98% |
Ferrell ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Ferrell is British & Irish, which comprises 57.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (20.2%) and Nigerian (3.2%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, and Italian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 57.9% |
| French & German | 20.2% |
| Nigerian | 3.2% |
| Other | 18.7% |
Possible origins of the surname Ferrell
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Ferrell have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 88.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 88.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 88.40% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 88.40% |
What Ferrell haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Ferrell is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-S846 and R-P311, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Logan, Hughes, Morgan, Jones, Davies, Lloyd, Phillips, Lewis, Oliver, Mccormick.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Ferrell surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Ferrell have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Ferrell" Surname 46.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Ferrell" Surname 23.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Ferrell" Surname 25.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Ferrell" Surname 19.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Ferrell?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Ferrell are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition