Recorded as Farren, Farron, Ferron, Fearon, and others, this is an English surname although one of French origins. Introduced into England by the Norman-French after the famous Conquest of 1066, it was an occupational name for an iron worker or sometimes a blacksmith. It derives from the term "ferron", from the Latin word "ferro", a derivative of "ferrum", meaning iron. The English surname spellings from this source includes Fearon and Feron, whilst the equivalent French spelluings include Ferron, Ferronier, Fernier and diminutives Ferronet, Fernez, and Ferronel. The Hundred Rolls of the city of London in 1273 record three examples of the name, all brothers being Alan, Stephen and Henry le Feon. Amongst the recordings of the surname in the church registers of the city of London are those of the Mary Fearon, chjristened on September 9th 1660 at St. Botolph's Bishopgate, and of the marriage of John Farron and Mary Ann Contine at St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney, on April 14th 1712. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter le Ferrun. This was dated 1179, in the history of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, during the reign of King Henry 11nd, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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