Richard Few was a shoemaker by trade and was undoubtedly influenced to emigrate to the New World not only by the possiblity of religious freedom but the ecomonic opportunities. Even before he came to America on June 2, 1681, he purchased 500 acres of land in Pennsylvania from William Penn's administration. Richard Few was listed as a "First Purchaser" and receive a ten-acre bonus lot in Philadelphia on the Schuylkill side of the city.

The family name was written "Ffew" or "ffew". The name originated in Wales from the Welch, "Ap Hugh" meaning "son of Hugh". Later there were more variations: Phughe, pugh, pughe, phewe, phew, pew, pewe, Fewe, Few...