The village name 'Farnham' is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'homestead where ferns grow'. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village was recorded as Ferneham. The affix 'Royal' was given to the village in the late Eleventh century by the king, who gave the lord of the manor of Farnham Bertrand de Verdon the Grand Sergeantry, on the condition of providing a glove and putting it on the king's right hand at the coronation, and supporting his right arm, while the Royal sceptre was in his hand.
Within the parish boundary are the hamlets of Farnham Common, Hedgerley & Dean and Seer Green.