Surname Fearys - Meaning and Origin

Fearys: What does the surname Fearys mean?

The last name Fearys is believed to be of Old French origin. It is derived from the word ‘fiere’, meaning ‘plucky’ or ‘brave’. This indicates that the original bearers of the Fearys surname were admirers of courage and bravery in the face of adversity.

The Fearys surname is one that is found mainly throughout the United Kingdom, particularly in Wales and England. Records of the Fearys family date as far back as the beginning of the 13th century, when the name is first documented in writings related to the city of Salisbury.

Throughout its history the Fearys family has been associated with a wide range of noble professions, including butchers, merchants, tailors, and clergymen. It is believed that members of the Fearys family have served in the British Army since its formation, with some Fearys even being executed during the Civil War for their involvement on the side of the King.

Due to their long and varied history, Fearys is an interesting surname that evokes images of bravery and honour. Its rich heritage is one that is certainly worth keeping alive, with many modern-day Fearys family members taking pride in carrying on the strong spirit of their ancestors.

Fearys: Where does the name Fearys come from?

The last name FEARYS is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the midwest and south, as well as in Ireland. It is a rare name and does not appear in the top 1000 last names in the US.

In the US, Fearys is most commonly found in the states of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Kansas. The largest concentration of Feary family members is found in the Midwest-Central portion of the country, including Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Northeastern states of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts also have notable numbers of Fearys, mainly in and around Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, and Springfield.

In Ireland, Fearys can mainly be found in County Wexford and County Carlow. There is a significant population of Feary's in Dublin, where many of the family members settled during the Potato Famine and later emigrated to the US.

Farmers are a primary occupation of those with the Fearys surname in the US and may provide a clue to how it spread using the old English system of registering with the local lord or council of the local town. In fact, in the US, some Fearys with farming backgrounds are found to have been involved with the early American Farming and Food Production system.

Today, Fearys are scattered throughout the US and Ireland, with a strong presence in the Midwest-Central region. The surname does not appear in the UK, Australia, or Canada.

Variations of the surname Fearys

The surname Fearys is one that has a variety of spellings, from the original spelling to other possible spellings and variances used over the years. The main and original spelling is Fearys, however, it has been seen in records as Ferris, Ferrers, Ferreis, Farras, Ferray, Ferrice, Ferries, Ferras, Ferrar, Fareis, Farris, Fyres, Fyrece and Firryce. It has also been seen as a combination of spellings, for example, Fearris, Fearreys, Farreis and Faireys. It is possible that some versions of Fearys that you might encounter are related to other surnames from the same geographical area, for example, Feran in Ireland or Ferand in France, which could be variants of Fearys.

Although most are of English origin, there is also a version of Fearys which has a Welsh derivation, being Ffyrcws which translates to ‘free man’. The Fearys surname can also be found in Ireland with the Gaelic spelling of O’Ferris or O’Ferriss, where the ‘O’ prefix indicates the person belonged to one of the ancient Gaelic families.

Although there are many variants of Fearys, the spelling has been known to remain consistent throughout much of the last three centuries, with records from the 1800's often showing an identical spelling to records in the modern day.

Famous people with the name Fearys

• Van Fearys: popular African American actor who has appeared in numerous movies such as Get Out and Us.
• Ashley Fearys: American actress who has appeared in films such as Listen Up Philip and On the Survival of Love.
• Emma Fearys: British singer and songwriter best known for her hit single "Come Back To You".
• Colin Fearys: popular British rapper and record producer who is most well-known for producing for the likes of Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.
• Luke Fearys: award-winning Canadian film producer and director whose projects include The Wolfman and Snow White and the Huntsman.
• Elena Fearys: Russian model and actress who has appeared in films and TV shows such as The City of Riga and The Russian Winter.
• Josh Fearys: American professional fantasy football player who was part of the 2002 Super Bowl champion team.
• Jesse Fearys: Australian television presenter who is best known for hosting the popular show Australia's Got Talent.
• Mel Fearys: British author and journalist who wrote the novel My Sister's Keeper and is a regular contributor to the online magazine Huffington Post.
• Julian Fearys: New Zealand photographer and director who has become known for his thought-provoking work about inclusion and identity.

Other surnames

Feary