Surname Fairy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Fairy: What does the surname Fairy mean?
The last name Fairy is believed to be of English origin. It is derived from the Old English phrase fare-wig, which translates to "stranger," indicating that people with this surname were thought to be foreigners. As time went on, the meaning of fare-wig shifted to "fairy," so anyone with the last name Fairy was thought of as having fey or fairy-like traits.
In some cases, the surname could also be derived from a place name. One example is Farey, a place of settlement on the River Ouse in Yorkshire. In this case, people with the last name Fairy would be descended from those who settled there.
The surname Fairy could also be a modern variation of the last name Farley, which was derived from the Olde English place name Fara-leah, indicating a clearing in the woods. As with the other variants of the name, those with the last name Farley would also be thought to have fairy-like qualities.
The surname Fairy is certainly a unique one, and carries with it many intriguing possibilities. Whether it is derived from a place name, an old English greeting or an interesting folktale, the bearer of this name would be sure to enthrall those around them - and live up to the name's mystical origins.
Order DNA origin analysisFairy: Where does the name Fairy come from?
The last name Fairy is most common in the United States today, with more than 1600 Americans sharing it. It is primarily found in the southern states, especially Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia, but it is also commonly seen throughout the country. In the United States, the most popular states for the Fairy surname are Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, and South Carolina, in descending order.
The Fairy name is also seen in other countries, though it is much rarer. For example, there are about forty Fairys living in Canada, and a much smaller number of Fairys in Mexico and Central and South America.
In England and Wales, the Fairy surname is seen in very small numbers, but the greatest concentration is in the eastern counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. In Scotland, there are about two hundred Fairys living mostly in the Highlands and East Lothian region.
Altogether, the Fairy name is still relatively uncommon, making up only 0.001% of the global population. However, some branches of the Fairy family have been in the United States for centuries, and others still live in the countries where the surname is more common.
Variations of the surname Fairy
Fairy is an English surname of Old French origin, and as such, has numerous variants and spellings. Common variants and surnames of the same origin include Fairie, Fairey, Fairleigh, Farley, Fairchild, Fairbrother, Fairyman and Fairman.
The spelling 'Fairy' is derived from the Old French words 'fae' and 'rie', meaning 'realm' and 'rule' respectively. Historically, those with this surname were associated with wealthy, powerful landowning families who used their ancestral lands as a type of form of governance.
Variants of the surname Fairy exist all over the English speaking world, with 'Fairey' being especially common in North America and 'Fairlie' in the UK.
The Fairy spelling is still relatively popular today, especially in North American and Canada. Notable people with this surname include author S. Lovett Fairy, Canadian footballer Brad Fairley, and English actor Hugh Fairlie.
In addition to the surnames mentioned above, variants of the name Fairy include Fairie, Farlee, Fairley, Fairbanks, Fairbairn, Fairbank, Fairbrother, Farlow, Fairborn, Fairlamb, Fermoyle, Faroe, Farah, Fearon, Farro, Feary and Fairlamb.
Surnames derived from the same origin as Fairy include Fairchild, Fairweather, Fairey, Fairbrother, Fairman, Fairhurst, Fairbrother and Fairley. These surnames are common throughout English-speaking regions, with Fairchild being especially popular in the UK.
Famous people with the name Fairy
- Roger Fairy: a former professional English cricketer
- Eric Fairy: a Canadian jazz singer and composer
- Michael Fairy: an Australian singer and songwriter
- David Fairy: a former American long jumper
- Freddie Fairy: a former American National Football League player
- Henry Fairy: a former Canadian football player
- James Fairy: a former British professional snooker player
- John Fairy: a former Australian rules football player
- Laura Fairy: an Australian author
- Patrick Fairy: an English footballer
- Peter Fairy: an American composer and producer
- Rebecca Fairy: a former British international field hockey player
- Shirley Fairy: an English actress
- Sophia Fairy: a British blogger and social media influencer
- William Fairy: a British professor and prolific writer on Victorian theatre