Surname Furniss - Meaning and Origin

Furniss: What does the surname Furniss mean?

The last name Furniss is an English surname, most likely originating from the Old Norman term “furneus” meaning forge or furnace. This suggests that the original holder of this surname was a smith or metalworker of some kind.

The Furniss surname is most commonly found in the British Isles, with most of its presence in England, and to a lesser extent in Scotland and Ireland. Since the beginning of the 11th century, the Furniss surname has been widely dispersed across the British Isles.

The Furniss surname is a good indication of someone with strong roots in the British Isles. Throughout history, the Furniss surname has been associated with names with a strong sense of regional identity, making the Furniss surname a particularly immediate and interesting part of British Isles history.

The Furniss surname carries with it a great sense of personal identity and regional heritage. Within the British Isles, those with the Furniss surname are sure to have ancestors that have been with the region for generations and centuries. This is something those with this surname can take great pride in. In the face of changing times, one thing that stays true is that the Furniss surname is a powerful testament to the distinctiveness and durability of British culture and identity.

Furniss: Where does the name Furniss come from?

The last name Furniss is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England, with a concentration around the counties of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. The surname is also more widespread throughout the United Kingdom, with a low density of Furniss families found in Scotland, Wales, and parts of Northern Ireland. There are also a number of Furniss families in North America, primarily in the United States and Canada.

In the United States, Furniss families are scattered rather widely throughout the country, but the highest concentration of Furniss families is found in Ohio, California, Florida, and Washington. According to Ancestry.com, the surname had an especially strong showing in Georgia with records of Furniss families in the late 1700s and early 1800s being especially numerous in the state.

In Canada, the Furniss surname is also found in many provinces across the country, although its highest concentration is in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. While the majority of Furniss families in Canada can trace their roots to England, it is likely that a number of them also have origins in some areas of Scotland due to the large influx of Scottish immigrants to Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Today, the surname Furniss is relatively rare and is likely to become even more uncommon over the course of the next generation. However, with the resurgence of genealogical research and DNA testing, it is likely that the last name will continue to have a presence for many generations to come.

Variations of the surname Furniss

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Furniss vary depending on the region where the family descendant is located. In the United Kingdom, Furniss is the most common variant of the surname, but other versions of the surname can be found, such as Ferniss, Fernisse, Farnes, Fernes, Furnace, Furnes, Furniss, Ferniss, Fernyce, and Furnish. In Ireland and Scotland, the most common variant is Fernyce, which is derived from the Gaelic surname "O'Fearnais".

In the United States, Furniss is usually spelled Furnace, but other versions such as Farnes, Fernes, Furnise, and Furneaux are also found. Variants of the name in Europe include Furness, Fetnoss, Furno, and Furens. Variants of the surname in Australia and New Zealand are Ferness, Furnes, and Fernisse.

In the German-speaking countries of Europe, the surname is more commonly rendered as Fürnis. Variants in other European countries include Fernette, Ferniste, Furnace, Furneux and Ferness.

In some regions of Asia such as China and Japan, the surname is spelled as Fan Xi and Fu Nishi respectively. In India, the name is spelled as Fiurniss.

In conclusion, the surname Furniss has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin depending on the region where the family descendant is located. These variants include Ferniss, Fernisse, Farnes, Fernes, Furnace, Furnes, Furniss, Ferniss, Fernyce, and Furnish in the UK, Furnace, Farnes, Fernes, Furnise, and Furneaux in the US, Fürnis in the German-speaking countries, Fan Xi and Fu Nishi in Asia, and Fiurniss in India.

Famous people with the name Furniss

• David Furniss: British Olympic cyclist who competed in two Olympics games.
• Jodie Furniss: American volleyball player who was the MVP of the National Championship NCAA tournament.
• Andy Furniss: British footballer with more than 200 appearances for Preston North End F.C.
• Ralph Furniss: British footballer who made more than 150 appearances for Wolverhampton.
• Billy Furniss: British footballer who represented Hull City as a defender.
• Brian Furniss: British Royal Air Force pilot who was the lead navigator on the first British-American flight to reach the South Pole.
• Emmaline Furniss: American composer and singer-songwriter best known for her folksy music.
• Tommy Furniss: American country-western singer and guitar player.
• Melissa Furniss: British visual artist who created the video installation series “Departure Lounges”.
• Henry Furniss: British illustrator best known for his book ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.

Other surnames

Furnis