Farrell is one of those Irish surnames that hides its rank well. Behind the friendly, familiar name stand the Ó Fearghail, lords of Annaly, who ruled their Longford territory from the fortress that gave the town of Longford its name. If you're shopping for a Farrell, you're shopping for a lordly name in plain clothes. Every piece below is in our Farrell and O'Farrell Irish family gifts collection.
The Lords of Annaly
The Farrell name comes from the Irish Ó Fearghail, descendant of Fearghal, a personal name built on the old word for valor. The family ruled Annaly in today's County Longford for centuries, their chief seat at Longphort Uí Fhearghail, "the fortress of O'Farrell," which became, simply, Longford. The name remains tightly woven into the county to this day, and emigration carried it across the Atlantic in strength. The full story is in our Farrell surname history, worth two minutes before you write the card.
Woven or Printed: Choosing the Farrell Blanket
The heirloom pick is the Farrell woven blanket: the O'Farrell family crest and the Irish National Tartan woven into premium cotton yarn rather than printed, with fringed edges and three sizes, from a 52" x 37" display throw to a full 80" x 60" couch blanket.
Who it suits: parents and grandparents, a Farrell wedding couple, or the relative tracing the line back toward Longford. A town literally named for the family makes a strong card line. For a dorm room, a camper or a gift that will see daily washing, the printed Farrell tartan blanket is the lighter choice: a 50" x 60" polyester throw with the Farrell crest on one side and a white reverse.
Farrell or O'Farrell: Picking the Right Mug
The mugs come in both spellings, so match the one on the family's front door. The Farrell mug is glossy white with a black handle and interior; the O'Farrell mug carries the O'Farrell crest with the same black accents. Both hold 11 oz and handle the dishwasher, which makes them the easy pick for birthdays, stockings and office gift swaps.
For the Wall, the Garden and the Tree
The rest of the range follows the same rule of matching the spelling:
- Wall pennants: the Farrell pennant with its gold lion crest and the O'Farrell pennant, each 18" x 21" on a wooden dowel, made for a den, dorm or study.
- Garden flag: the House of O'Farrell garden flag in two sizes, a housewarming favorite for an O'Farrell home (pole not included).
- Christmas ornament: the Farrell framed ornament, a silver-tone keepsake that comes back to the tree every December.
- Apparel: the Farrell Celtic harp T-shirt in black, Irish green or dark heather gray, a natural choice for reunion shirts.
Matching the Gift to the Occasion
Christmas: the woven blanket as the centerpiece; mugs and the ornament for the wider list. Father's Day & Mother's Day: a crest gift honors the parent who handed down the Farrell name. Weddings: a woven blanket for a new Farrell household. New baby: a first-Christmas ornament that marks year one. Reunions: harp T-shirts for the crowd and a pennant for the host. Sympathy: the framed ornament or a pennant keeps a late Farrell's name in the family home.
Put the Story in the Card
"There's a county town in Ireland named after your family's fortress." The details are in the Farrell surname history. If the family tree spreads through the midlands, read the Quinn history as well, since Woulfe records an Ó Cuinn family of Annaly of the same Conmaicne stock as the O'Farrells, and the O'Reilly history for the East Breifne lords whose Cavan country bordered Annaly.
Questions About Farrell Gifts
Which Farrell gift suits a milestone occasion?
For milestone occasions, the woven blanket with the O'Farrell family crest is the heirloom piece. For everyday gifting, a Farrell mug or the ornament carries the same story at a smaller price.
Are Farrell and O'Farrell the same name?
Yes. Both come from Ó Fearghail, so choose the spelling the recipient uses; the mugs and pennants are made in both forms, and the garden flag in the O'Farrell form.
What about Farrelly?
Farrelly is usually a separate name, Ó Faircheallaigh, from Drumlane in County Cavan, so these Farrell and O'Farrell designs are the wrong fit for most Farrelly families.
What does "family crest" mean on these gifts?
It is the familiar name for the shield-and-crest design that represents a surname on heritage gifts. Our guide to family crests and heraldry explains the history behind the term.
What about in-laws and cousins with a different surname?
Yes. The store carries over 2,000 names, so every branch of the family tree can have its own gift.
Browse the complete Farrell and O'Farrell Irish heritage gift collection to compare the woven and printed blankets, mugs, pennants, the garden flag, the ornament and the harp T-shirt discussed in this guide.