Farmar, Fermer,
Farmer, Fermor |
Meaning 'the farmer',
an occupational name. Variants Farmar, Fermer, Farmer, Fermor.
The term denoted in the first instance a tax-farmer, one who
undertook the collection of Taxes, revenues, and imposts, paying
a fixed sum for the proceeds, and secondarily someone who rented
land for the purposes of farming. This name is of Anglo-Saxon
descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland
and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts
throughout the above islands. Examples of such are a Thomas Fermour,
who was recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire,
England, in the year 1379 and a Francis Farmer and Mary Wilson,
were married in Saint Mary Aldermary, in the year 1772. In Scotland
an Alan Fermour witnessed instrument signed at Saint Andrews,
in the year 1391 a William Fermour was Burgess of Crail, in the
year 1619. In Ireland the name is found in Ulster being introduced
there from England centuries ago. |