Fergus (name)

Name list

Fergus or Feargus is a common and one of the oldest known Scottish or Irish 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

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Fergus (Fearghus)Pronunciation| English: /ˈfɜːrɡəs/
Irish: [ˈfʲaɾˠəgəsˠ]
Scottish Gaelic: [ˈfɛɾɛɣəs̪]

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Gender| Male
Origin
Word/name| Proto-Celtic
Meaning| "man-strength, virility".
Other names
Alternative spelling| Fearghus, Fearghas
Related names| Fearghal, Fergal, Ferris

### Saints

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* Saint Fergus

### Nobles

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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

## References

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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