Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Farwath t.Ric1 Ch 1232

• Farewath 1273,1274 Blyth 1319 FF 1384 Cl

• Ferewath 13th Blyth

• Farewaht c.1250 ib

• Fayrewath 1280 Ass

• Ferwath 1445 FF

• Farworth 1530,1773 Recov

• Farworth Green 1597 DKRxxxviii

• Farrath 1776 Trinity

• Farworth Green c.1840 TA

Etymology

Farworth (TA ) is Farwath t. Ric 1 (1232) Ch, Farewath 1273, 1274Blyth , 1319FF , 1384 Cl, Ferewath 13thBlyth , Farewaht c. 1250 ib., Fayrewath 1280Ass , Ferwath 1445FF , Farworth 1530, 1773Recov , Farworth Green 1597 DKR xxxviii, Farrath 1776Trinity , Farworth Green c. 1840TA . This name is discussed by Lindkvist (179–80). It is clear that the second element is vað , 'ford,' the first is more doubtful. The name may be a parallel to Farforth (L), with early forms Farford and Fareford .Probably the first element in the latter is OE  fær , 'going, passage' (cf. Walter Hall PN Ess 239–40) with the corresponding OWSc  far or fǫr in Farforth. Otherwise we may take it to be OESc  fār , 'sheep.'