Ferriss Name Meaning, Origin and Heraldry

Some records give Ferris; others give Ferriss. Both point to the same English family name. Its meaning, shared with Ferris, is “from Ferrières, 'iron workings'”. The extra ending in Ferriss is patronymic: it identified a person as belonging to Ferris's family. Local scribes, dialects and emigration all left their mark on how the name was written. Related forms: Ferrers.

The Census Bureau's 2010 surname file lists Ferriss with 425 bearers, at rank 49,461. It sits among the 50,000 most common last names in the country. Ferriss sounds close to Farris, so it can help to search both.

Looking for a Ferriss coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. For the full story, order the Ferriss surname pack.