Surname Spelling and Pronunciation
As one reads through old manuscripts, wills, deeds, and other records in Georgia, it becomes apparent that many early pioneers did not know how to read, write, or spell. This is particularly true of the Farr surname. While simple, there are surprisingly several variations of the Farr surname.
Pharr
One of the earliest documents I have located names our ancestor Jacob Pharr. This is not surprising given that several others moved into Georgia during or after the American Revolution with the same surname. Ephraim Pharr was one of those settlers who made his home in the Northern portion of Wilkes County after the Revolution. Thanks to DNA and documentary evidence, I can state without a doubt that we bear no relationship with the Pharrs who descend from Ephraim Pharr. This family continues to spell the surname Pharr.
Fair
Some early post-Revolutionary settlers in Georgia were listed as Fair, and these names appear in documents in several eastern Georgia county documents. Documentary evidence suggests that our family is not related to members of these Fair families. However, I have found several occasions in which the surname of known members of my family was spelled Fair, not Farr. These occurrences were noted in the early 1800’s, and it suggests that our surname was perhaps pronounced more like “fare” or “fair” at one time.
Farr
Farr is the accepted spelling of our surname today, and it has been since the 1840’s. It is pronounced “far” as in far away.
Thanks! Yesterday I got Thomas Farrar changed to Thomas Farr in Family Search, based on documents for the same person spelled Farr. A volunteer at our Family History Library said, “What a mess!!” The tree has the two names joined back further as well. I’m told Farr was never Farrar either. Do you have DNA evidence of that as well? Farr is my maiden name…from Col. William, S.C.
Thanks for visiting my website. In my research, I have not found any family connection among the Farr surname and the Farrar surname. However, my yDNA is close to two men of Spanish descent whose surname is Ferrer. My yDNA does not match anyone in your Farr family who descended from Col. William Farr of South Carolina. There seems to be two unrelated families of Farrs in the South following the Revolution. Happy hunting, and please stay in touch.
Hi Tom – thanks for all of your work on the family genealogy. Jesse B. Farr who married Charity Adams is my great, great grandfather. I have been looking for years trying to find out who is parents are. I suspect that his father is William Black Farr, son of Col. William Farr of South Carolina and that his mother may be Dorcas Farr who was in Warren/Colombia County GA at the time Jesse shows up there in the 1830s. The reason that I suspect this is that 1) Jesse’s middle initial is B, which could stand for “Black” William’s middle name and maiden name of I think his mother, 2) Jesse’s 1st son is named Arthur which was the name of the father of his wife Charity and their 2nd son was named William which following the naming scheme of those days could be Jesse’s father’s name; 3) William Black Farr lived in South Carolina, close to the eastern border of GA; 4) He was born around 1771 which would have been about the time frame for the birth of Jesse’s father, 5) I found a mention of an illegitimate son of William Black Farr (but his name wasn’t Jesse, but he may have had more children), 6) there are no records of William Black Farr marrying, but he may have married or at least had children with Dorcas or perhaps someone else, 7) I think I remember seeing that someone in the William Black Farr line was related to Thomas Jefferson and Jesse’s 2nd son was named William Jefferson Farr. I, and several of my known relatives have taken the DNA test and have all come out related, but as far as I know we haven’t matched anyone in the William Black Farr line. Do you know of anyone in that line that has matched? Thanks Greg Evans