Surname Furry - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Furry: What does the surname Furry mean?
The last name Furry is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from an ancient baptismal name. The surname comes from the Old English pre 7th Century personal name "Furhhere" which is made up of two elements — "furh," meaning "furrow" or "path", and "here," meaning "army" or "warrior." Therefore, it was likely initially a nickname for a warrior who used the furrow or path as a tactical advantage, or perhaps metaphorically given to a person who would blaze a trail or path in their endeavors, whether literal or figurative. The surname has a variety of forms including Furre, Furrey, Furry, and Furey. Like many surnames, spellings have often changed over time and vary according to region. It is necessary to understand that the translation of surnames is an imperfect science and often based on interpretation and conjecture, as they were often passed down orally before standardized spelling was established.
Order DNA origin analysisFurry: Where does the name Furry come from?
The surname Furry is of German origin, derived from the Germanic personal name 'Furihart' or 'Furihard', which is composed of the elements "furhi" meaning "forest" and "hard" meaning "strong, brave, hardy". The name could also have originated as an occupational name for a worker with furs.
The oldest recorded set of this family name is found in Switzerland with the Furrer family, dating back to the Middle Ages. The name was later anglicized to 'Furry' when members of the family emigrated to English-speaking countries.
Today, it is found in numerous countries but is not particularly common. In the United States, it appears mostly in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. It is also found in England and Canada, but the distribution is rather sparse. Overall, the surname Furry is now relatively rare, and people bearing this name would likely trace their ancestry back to Switzerland or Germany.
Variations of the surname Furry
The surname Furry is not a very common one, and its exact origins are not clear. It might be of Germanic origin or from the English language famously known for its changing spelling of surnames over centuries due to phonetic and regional influences.
Some spelling variations for Furry could include Furrie, Furrey, Furrye, Furryy, or even Furri. Some similar surnames that might share the same origin include Ferry, Fry, Farrey, Furby, or Furre.
However, it's also possible that Furry might have originated from a nickname or occupational name. Furry could have derived from a variant of the name "Ferrara", a name for a worker in iron, or a ferrier. Another theory is that it could derive from the Old English given name 'Furh' which means 'furrow', it could have been an occupational name for a ploughman or tiller.
The surname could have also possibly derived from the Gaelic surname "Ó Fuartháin", which has been Anglicized as Furey and Fury, and these could be other variants of the surname. Please note that tracing surname origins can be complex, and these are speculative origins and variants.
Famous people with the name Furry
- SNL cast member Pete Davidson’s real last name is Furry.
- Fredrick Furry, physicist and professor at Brown University.
- David Furry, professional bassist.
- Allen Furry, former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Craig Furry, professional wrestler.
- Alex Furry, professional golfer.
- Talon Furry, actor known for his roles on series like It Happened Again.
- Barbara Furry, postmaster of Worcester, Massachusetts.
- Dwight Furry, founder of the Furry & Sons department store.
- Philip Furry, Arkansas State Treasurer from 1973-1975.