Furr
A surname most likely from a nickname or variant spelling, probably connected to an old word for a gray or mouse-colored coat.
The #4,304 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,378 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Furr is usually treated as a variant of Middle English furre, a word for fur or a fur-lined garment, and by extension a possible nickname for someone who wore or made such clothing. In some cases it may also reflect a descriptive nickname from the color or texture of a person’s hair or clothing. Because the name appears in older records with spelling variation, it is best understood as an English surname with several possible but related roots rather than a single fixed source.
History
The surname is found in England in early records under variable spellings, which is typical of short surnames that could shift between bynames and family names. In later centuries it became established as a hereditary surname and spread to North America through English-speaking migration. Modern bearers in the United States are relatively few, suggesting a fairly localized or branch-based survival of the name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Short surnames like Furr often survive because medieval spelling was flexible, so the same family could appear under several forms in old documents.
From the historical record
“Burrell, Burnet, Cawry-mawry, &c 4tem, lego Gilberto Skut . . . togam meam de bluett furr *: 1437. Bury Wais (H.E.D.). Robert Bhiet, co. Backs, ao Edw. I. R. loha Blenit, co. Gloac, ia7«. A.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)