This very unusual and interesting name is an example of a locational surname such as were often created in the Middle Ages from Old English pre 7th century elements to describe a particular place using topographical features. In this instance the name was originally 'Farmston' and is derived from the Old English 'fearn' meaning ferns and 'tun' a homestead or village and often a farm. The surname would therefore denote 'one who lived at the farm or homestead where ferns grew'. Locational names were usually given to the lord of the manor to those who lived in that place or to those who moved from there and went to live or work in another village or town. The spelling of the name in the modern idiom includes such variations as 'Firmston(e)', 'Formston(e)', 'Farmston(e)' and 'Furmston(e)'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joseph Furmston married Lucia Pimm. which was dated 1765 11th of August at St. Mary's, Putney during the reign of King George III 'Farmer George' 1760-1820 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.