2000
#11,042
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,641
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.98
Rare Last name
Ferrin
French locational surname derived from the Old French word "ferrier," referring to an iron mine or iron works.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,129 Americans carry the last name Ferrin. That puts it at #11,100 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.91 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 109,541 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ferrin surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.1K
1 in 109,541
Census rank
#11,100
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,729 bearers of the surname Ferrin in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.91 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11100th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ferrin, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.0%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ferrin
The surname Ferrin has its origins in France, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "ferrier," which referred to a blacksmith or iron worker. This connection to the metalworking trade suggests that early bearers of this name may have been skilled artisans or tradesmen.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ferrin can be found in the Livre des Métiers, a medieval text from Paris that documented various professions and trades. In this text, the name "Ferrin" is mentioned in relation to a blacksmith's guild, further reinforcing the occupational origins of the surname.
As the Ferrin family spread throughout France, regional variations in spelling emerged, including Ferren, Feren, and Ferrand. These variations can be traced back to different regions and dialects within the country.
In the 14th century, records show a notable individual named Jean Ferrin, a prominent blacksmith in the town of Rouen. His work on the intricate ironwork of local churches and buildings earned him a reputation as a skilled craftsman.
The name Ferrin also found its way into historical documents beyond France. In the late 15th century, a merchant named Pierre Ferrin is mentioned in the records of the Hanseatic League, a powerful trade organization in northern Europe. His business dealings suggest that the name had spread to other parts of the continent by this time.
In the 16th century, a renowned French explorer and navigator named Jacques Ferrin embarked on several voyages to the Americas, contributing to the expansion of French colonial interests in the New World. His exploits and discoveries are documented in various maritime logs and journals from that era.
Another notable figure was Marguerite Ferrin, a 17th-century French poet and author. Her works, which often explored themes of love and nature, were widely celebrated during her lifetime and have been preserved in various literary anthologies.
In the 18th century, a prominent French architect named François Ferrin left a lasting legacy with his design of several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais-Royal and the Théâtre de l'Odéon. His innovative use of stone and iron in construction techniques was highly influential in the architectural community of the time.
As the name Ferrin spread beyond its French origins, it also took root in other parts of Europe and eventually in the Americas. While the specific details of its journey may vary, the surname's connection to the metalworking trade and its rich historical legacy remain a testament to its enduring significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ferrin
Among Census respondents with the surname Ferrin, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.0%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Ferrin bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ferrin surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.9% · 2,316
- Hispanic or Latino10.0% · 272
- Two or more races3.3% · 90
- Black or African American0.9% · 25
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 19
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ferrin
Ferrin appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,983
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,896
+255 bearers (+9.7%)
Per 100,000 0.98
Rank movement Up 59 places
2020
#11,100
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,729
-167 bearers (-5.8%)
Per 100,000 0.91
Rank movement Down 117 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #11,042 | 2,641 | 0.98 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,983 | 2,896 | 0.98 | +255 bearers (+9.7%) | Up 59 places |
| 2020 | #11,100 | 2,729 | 0.91 | -167 bearers (-5.8%) | Down 117 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ferrin surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,983 | #11,100 | -1.1% |
| Count | 2,896 | 2,729 | -5.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.98 | 0.91 | -6.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ferrin bearers went from 2,896 to 2,729 (-5.8% change). The surname moved down 117 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,983 to #11,100.
FAQ
Ferrin surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ferrin?
Name Census estimates that about 3,129 living Americans carry the surname Ferrin. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 109,541 residents.
How common is Ferrin?
Ferrin ranks #11,100 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.91 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,729 people with the surname Ferrin. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,129), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.91 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.91 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Ferrin.
Has Ferrin become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ferrin went from 2,896 recorded bearers to 2,729. That is a decrease of 167 (-5.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #10,983 to #11,100.
What does the Census say about the background of Ferrin?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ferrin, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.0%) and Two or More Races (3.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ferrin in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.9% (2,316 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ferrin appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.9%), Hispanic (10.0%), Two or More Races (3.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ferrin (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ferrin mean?
French locational surname derived from the Old French word "ferrier," referring to an iron mine or iron works. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ferrin (0.91 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Ferrin?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.