Recorded as Farrant, Farren, Farrin, Farron, Farryn, Farryan, Farryann, Ferrand, Ferrant, Ferryn, and others this is an English surname, although one of medieval French origins of which it has two. Introduced at or after the famous Conquest of England in 1066, and deriving from the word 'ferrent,' meaning iron, it was probably a descriptive occupational name for a maker or armour, a blacksmith or whitesmith. Secondly, the name could derive from the given name "Ferrant". This was the French form of Ferdinand, composed of the original elements "fareth", meaning journey, and "naneth", daring or brave. In England early recordings include those of Ferrandus Clericus in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in the year 1190, Herebertus filius Feran in the tax rolls known as "Feet of Fines" of Hertfordshire in 1198, and Peter Ferrant, in the Assize Court rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202. Later examples from church register recordings after 1535, include Mary Faryann who married John Wells at St James church, Dukes Place, Westminster, on October 26th 1688, and Martyn Farrin who was christened at Allhallows church, London Wall, on November 19th 1750. A coat of arms has the blazon of a silver shield, on a red chief two crosses patonce vair. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Ferrant. This was dated 1188, in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire, during the reign of King Henry 11nd, 1154 - 1189. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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