From my database the first recorded instance of the surname
Farmery is 1545-7 in London and 1551 in Lincolnshire. I have a number of earlier events but for spelling variants, the earliest being from 1186-1199. Listed below are the various different spellings found in these early times:
1186-1199: Jordan
de Infirmaria witnessed a grant of maintenance from Reading Abbey [Reading Abbey Cartulary]
1205?: William
Framery (
Framerii) [manuscript relating to Earl of Leicester]
1200-1215: Roger
de Infirmaria witnessed sale to the prior and convent of St Gregory, Canterbury [Ancient Canterbury Deeds]
1220-1230: gift of a messuage in Reading to Ralph
de Infirmario for his homage and service [Reading Abbey Cartulary]
1216-1244: Robert
de Fermeria witnessed sale of land at Croxton, Leicestershire [Charters and Muniments at Berkeley Castle]
1240-1250: Grant of land from Roger
de Infirmitorio, of Croxton, Leicestershire [Charters and Muniments at Berkeley Castle]
1251/2?: Inquisition regarding Carlisle Forest - John
de Furmerie [Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society]
1240-1256: Thomas
de ffermeria witnessed grant of land [Cockersand Abbey Cartulary]
1274/5: arraignment against James
de la Fermerie [Patent Rolls, Waltham, Essex]
1274/5: arraignment by John
de Furmerys [Patent Rolls, Tallentire, Cumberland]
1275/6: arraignment against Roger
de la Fermerie [Patent Rolls, Hill, Gloucestershire]
1278/9: arraignment by Simon
de la Fermerye [Patent Rolls, Stanford, Bedfordshire]
1287: brother R[obert]
de Furmerey, Canon of Giseburne, licensed to transfer to a stricter order [Gyseburne Priory Cartulary]
1293: Lettice
de Firmaria [Chester Pleas Rolls]
1298: indebtedness of King to Alan
de la Fermerye of Spalding: 12l 16s 8d for 2 sacks 24 stone [Patent Rolls]
1313: counsel of Richard
del Fermorie of Werk [Inquisition Post Mortem, Morpeth, Northumberland]
1326: death of Simon
de la Fermorie, skinner [Coroners Rolls, Walbrooke St Stephen, Middlesex]
1377: Robert
Firmarie, pouchmaker [Calendar of Letter-books, London]
1535: William
Furmarie of Egmanton [PCY will]
1545-7: William
Farmery alais Baynton [Enrolments of Leases and Pensions, London]
1551: John
Farmery of Northorpe [PCC will]
Today
Farmery is the main surname spelling found, with a small number of families using
Farmerey and
Farmeary (pronounced "farmery"). Another variant I have recently come across is
Farmere (pronounced "farm-year") on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.