Ferguson

Ferguson
This most interesting surname is of Old Gaelic origin, found in Ireland and Scotland, and is a patronymic form of "Fergus", from an Old Gaelic personal name "Fearghus", composed of the elements "fear", man, and "gus", vigour, force, with the patronymic ending "son". This Gaelic personal name was the name of an early Irish mythological figure, a valiant warrior, and was also the name of the grandfather of St. Columba. Ferguson is by far the most popular and widespread form of Fergus. Some Irish bearers f the name "Fergus" claim descent from Fergus, Prince of Galloway (deceased 1161). Ferguson is widespread in Ireland in Ulster, where it is of Scottish descent. The surname is first recorded in Scotland in the mid 15th Century (see below), where the Fergus(s)ons are classed among the septs of Mar and Atholl, according to the Acts of the parliaments of Scotland, 1124 - 1707. King Robert 1, Ruler of Scotland (1306 - 1329) granted certain lands in Ayrshire to Fergus, son of Fergus. James Ferguson (1710 - 1776) presented to the Royal Society (1763) a projection of the partial solar eclipse of 1764 and lectured on electricity. Patrick Ferguson (1744 - 1780) invented the first breech-loading rifle used in the British army. A Coat of Arms was granted to Major James Ferguson, in 1691, which depicts a silver buckle between three silver boars' heads couped, within a silver embattled bordure, on a blue shield, with the Motto "Arte et Animo" (By skill and courage). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Fergusson, which was dated 1466, in the "Scottish Records of Kilkerran", during the reign of King James 111 of Scotland (Stuart), 1460 - 1488. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Ferguson — steht für: Ferguson (Familienname), der Familienname Ferguson (1745) Ferguson, ein Asteroid Ferguson Research, eine britische Firma Massey Ferguson, einen Hersteller landwirtschaftlicher Maschinen und Geräte Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten:… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ferguson — may refer to:PeoplePlacesIn the United States: * Ferguson, Iowa * Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis Companies and products* Ferguson Enterprises, a provider of plumbing, HVAC and safety equipment * Ferguson Company (also known as the… …   Wikipedia

  • Ferguson — Ferguson, IA U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 126 Housing Units (2000): 56 Land area (2000): 0.249159 sq. miles (0.645319 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.249159 sq. miles (0.645319 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ferguson —   [ fəːgəsn],    1) Adam, schottischer Historiker und Philosoph, * Logierait (bei Perth) 20. 6. 1723, ✝ Saint Andrews 22. 2. 1816; wurde Priester (1745) und war als Feldprediger in verschiedenen schottischen Regimentern tätig, dann Bibliothekar,… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Ferguson, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 126 Housing Units (2000): 56 Land area (2000): 0.249159 sq. miles (0.645319 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.249159 sq. miles (0.645319 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ferguson, KY — U.S. city in Kentucky Population (2000): 881 Housing Units (2000): 397 Land area (2000): 1.745853 sq. miles (4.521739 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.745853 sq. miles (4.521739 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ferguson, MO — U.S. city in Missouri Population (2000): 22406 Housing Units (2000): 9191 Land area (2000): 6.188508 sq. miles (16.028161 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.010115 sq. miles (0.026197 sq. km) Total area (2000): 6.198623 sq. miles (16.054358 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Ferguson [1] — Ferguson (spr. Fergus en), 1) James, geboren 1710 zu Keith in Banffshire in Schottland; hütete in seiner Jugend die Schafe u. erlangte bei dieser Gelegenheit Kenntnisse der Gestirne, so daß sein Herr bewogen wurde, ihm eine wissenschaftliche… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Ferguson [2] — Ferguson, Städtischer Bezirk (Post township) in der Grafschaft Centre im Staate Pennsylvanien; (Nordamerika), 1700 Ew …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Ferguson — (spr.förgössen), 1) James, Mechaniker und Astronom, geb. 1710 zu Keith in der schottischen Grafschaft Banff, gest. 16. Nov. 1776 in Edinburg, anfangs Schäfer, dann Porträtmaler, widmete sich später wissenschaftlichen Studien und lebte seit 1743… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Ferguson — (spr. förgĕß n), Adam, engl. Geschichtsforscher und Moralphilosoph, geb. 20. Juni 1723 zu Logieraith (Schottland), 1759 84 Prof. an der Universität Edinburgh, gest. 22. Febr. 1816 zu St. Andrews …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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