Quick Facts
Summary
Jack Farrell was Robbie Williams’ maternal grandfather. A coal miner from Stoke on Trent, he came from a working class Staffordshire family shaped by mining and military service. Though private, his legacy is honoured through Robbie’s Farrell clothing brand and a wrist tattoo bearing his name.Biography
Family background
John “Jack” Farrell was the maternal grandfather of Robbie Williams and the father of Jan Williams. He was born into a large working class family in Staffordshire. Jack was the eldest son among six sisters and had two brothers, Tom and Charles, the latter of whom died in infancy.
Working class roots
Jack Farrell followed a strong family tradition of industrial labour and entered the coal mining industry in Stoke-on-Trent. He worked in the pits during a period when mining communities defined both employment and social identity in the Potteries. His working life reflected the physical demands and communal nature of mining in the early to mid twentieth century.
Family life
Jack Farrell became a father to three daughters, one of whom was Jan Williams, Robbie Williams’ mother. He raised his family during a time shaped by economic hardship, wartime disruption and post war recovery. Family continuity and resilience were central to this period, values later passed down through Jan to Robbie.
Later years
Jack Farrell continued to live in Stoke-on-Trent throughout his life. He died in 1979, several years before Robbie Williams achieved fame. Although he did not witness his grandson’s public career, his name and identity remained important within the family.
Legacy through Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams has repeatedly acknowledged the importance of his maternal family. He honoured Jack Farrell by naming his menswear label Farrell after him, linking the brand’s emphasis on heritage and masculinity to his grandfather’s working class roots. Robbie also has Jack Farrell’s name tattooed on his wrist, marking a permanent personal tribute.
Symbolic significance
Jack Farrell’s significance lies in what he represents rather than public recognition. Through Robbie’s tributes, he stands as a symbol of ancestry, labour and continuity. Alongside figures such as Jan Williams and Betty Williams, Jack Farrell forms part of the family foundation that Robbie has consistently referenced when reflecting on identity, belonging and legacy.