indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from location)
Usage English
Other Forms FormsDes Ferrières, Ferrer, Ferrers, De Ferrers, Farrar
Meaning & History
The Ferrars are the Lincolnshire branch of the noble De Ferrers family. The latter having been linked to Tamworth Castle, manors in Baddesley Clinton, Tutbury Castle and the now ruined Groby Castle as well as many other estates around the UK.The family surname was originally spelt Des Ferrières and they originate from the area of Ferrières-St-Hilaire, Normandy. Where they held a family seat an Lords.The Ferrars and the other De Ferrers branches can trace their ancestry to a common ancestor, Henri de Ferrers (c. 1020-1100) Lord of the family seat who fought with William I of England at the Battle of Hastings, for which he was awarded with extensive lands in England.The De Ferrers can be traced back to the ninth century in Normandy and the family appears to be of ethnically French origin rather than Old Norse like other Norman noble families.The surname and its variants refers to one who came from "a n area of horseshoe smithies".