Fergus (name)

Fergus or Feargus is a common and one of the oldest known Irish or Scottish male given name derived from Old Irish, meaning "the strong (one)" or "the masculine (one)". ^{[1] [2]}

As a surname, Ferguson or Fergusson is common across Scotland but particularly in Perthshire and Ayrshire. In Ireland, the Ferris family of County Kerry derives its surname from the patronymic Ó Fearghusa.

Given name

Fergus (Fearghus)

Pronunciation	English: /ˈfɜːrɡəs/ Irish: [ˈfʲaɾˠəgəsˠ] Scottish Gaelic: [ˈfɛɾɛɣəs̪]
Gender	Male
Origin
Word/name	Proto-Celtic
Meaning	"man-strength, virility".
Other names
Alternative spelling	Fearghus, Fearghas
Related names	Fearghal, Fergal, Ferris

Saints

• Saint Fergus

Nobles

• Fergus the Great (died c. 645), also known as Gwrgan Fawr or Gurgantius, a king of Ergyng, a Welsh kingdom of the early medieval period
• Fergus mac Echdach, Scottish king of Dál Riata from about 778 to 781
• Fergus of Galloway (died 1161), Lord of Galloway
• Fergus, Earl of Buchan (died before 1214)
• Fergus Morton, Baron Morton of Henryton, judge

Politicians

• Fergy Brown Canadian politician
• Fergus Ewing (born 1957), Scottish politician
• Fergus Graham (1893-1978), 5th Baronet, British Member of Parliament
• Fergus McAteer, Irish politician
• Fergus Medwin (1874-1934), Australian politician
• Fergus Montgomery (1927-2013), British thrice Member of Parliament
• Fergus O'Brien, Irish politician
• Fergus O'Dowd, Irish politician
• Fergus Ó hÍr, Irish activist, politician, head teacher and broadcaster
• Fergus Smith (1843–1924), Australian politician

Writers and academics

• Fergus I. M. Craik (born 1935), Scottish cognitive psychologist
• Fergus Hume, novelist
• Fergus Gordon Kerr (born 1931), Scottish Catholic priest, philosopher and theologian
• Fergus Millar (1935–2019), British historian and Oxford professor
• Fergus Pyle (1935–1997), Irish journalist and editor

Others

• Fergus Bowes-Lyon, brother of the Queen Mother
• Fergus Johnston (born 1959), Irish composer
• Fergus McMaster (1879-1950), Australian businessman and aviation pioneer
• Fergus Riordan, actor
• Feargus Urquhart, Scottish-American video game designer
• Fergus McCreadie (born 1997), Scottish jazz pianist

Mythological figures

• Fergus I (mythological king), said to be the "first king of Scotland"
• Fergus Dubdétach, legendary High King of Ireland of the 3rd century AD
• Fergus Fortamail, legendary High King of Ireland of the 4th century BC
• Fergus mac Léti, legendary king of Ulster
• Fergus mac Róich, in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology
• Fergus Mór, a king of Dál Riata in Scottish mythology
• Fergus Lethderg ("red-side" or "half-red"), a son of Nemed who leads his people against the Fomorians in the Irish Mythological Cycle
• Fergus, son of Eochaid Mugmedon, half-brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages (5th century)
• Sir Fergus, one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table in Le Morte d'Arthur

Fictional characters

• Fergus the Railway Traction Engine, in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
• Fergus Cramer from the Nero Wolfe series
• Claudel "Fergus" Fraser, a supporting character from Outlander, both in the series of novels and the television adaptation
• Fergus Fuzz, a main character in the BBC puppet series The Furchester Hotel
• Fergus Kearney, in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street
• Fergus MacLeod, real name of Crowley from the TV series Supernatural
• Fergus McDuck, a Disney character
• Fergus Shannon, a dog in children's books by David Shannon
• King Fergus, the leader of the foxes in the German film Der Stürmer
• King Fergus, father of Princess Merida in the animated film Brave
• Fergus, a child of Shrek in the animated film Shrek Forever After

Surname

• Alex Fergus (1899–?), Scottish professional association footballer
• Dylan Fergus (b. 1980), American actor
• Greg Fergus (b. 1969), Canadian politician
• Sir Howard Fergus, Montserratian writer and historian
• James Fergus (1813–1902), miner, rancher, businessman and politician in Minnesota and Montana
• John Fergus (politician) (died 1865), British politician
• John Fergus (scholar) (c. 1700–c. 1761), Irish physician and man of letters
• Keith Fergus (b. 1954), American professional golfer
• Oris Fergus, Montserratian cricketer
• Thomas Fergus (1850–1914), New Zealand politician
• Tom Fergus (b. 1962), Canadian-raised American retired National Hockey League player

See also

• List of Scottish Gaelic given names
• List of Irish-language given names
• Ferragus (disambiguation)

References

1. Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 136 - 137.
2. Macbain, Alexander (1911) [1896], An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language, Inverness: Stirling: Eneas Mackay, p. 168