Ferguson Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Ferguson mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Ferguson name
Ferguson is a Scottish patronymic, "son of Fergus", from the Gaelic personal name Fearghas, usually explained as "man of vigour". The name grew up separately in several regions: the double-s Fergussons of Kilkerran in Ayrshire, families in Atholl in Perthshire, and others in Dumfriesshire and Argyll. It was carried in large numbers to Ulster in the 17th century and is very common in Northern Ireland.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Ferguson name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Ferguson name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Northern Ireland, Canada and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Ferguson pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Ferguson coat of arms for you.
Ferguson name FAQ
What does the Ferguson name mean?
Son of Fergus ("man of vigour"). Common variants include Fergusson, Fergus, Ferris.
Where does the Ferguson surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Northern Ireland, Canada and the United States.
Is there a Ferguson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Ferguson crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Ferguson coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.