Show ContentsFarkas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strathclyde clans of the Scottish/English Borderlands were the first people to use the name Farkas. It is derived from the Gaelic MacFhearchair which means son of Farquhar and Farquhar is derived from the Gaelic word Fearchar which means very dear one. So, the name means son of the very dear one.

Early Origins of the Farkas family

The surname Farkas was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they have enjoyed their seat at Kyle Stewart for many generations. The history is quite separate from that of Farquharson.

Robert Farquhar, Laird of Gilmilnescroft about the year 1350 was the first Chief on record and he was probably a direct descendant of Ferchart, father of Fergus, one of the chiefs setting the bounds of Newbattle Abbey in 1178. Descended was Ferkar, Earl of Ross, 1224-1231, and at this time a branch was started in the north at Caithness at Ederlarg.

Early History of the Farkas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farkas research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1445, 1646, 1677, 1706 and 1707 are included under the topic Early Farkas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farkas Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Farkas has been spelled Farquhar, Farquher, Farker, Farkar, Forker, Farquar, Farquer and many more.

Early Notables of the Farkas family

More information is included under the topic Early Farkas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farkas Ranking

In the United States, the name Farkas is the 6,602nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Farkas family to Ireland

Some of the Farkas family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Farkas migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Farkas Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Sigmon Farkas, who landed in Texas in 1850 2
  • Ignach Farkas, who landed in Mississippi in 1892 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Farkas (post 1700) +

  • Frank Farkas (b. 1956), American former member of the Florida House of Representatives
  • Jeffrey Thomas Farkas (b. 1978), retired American professional ice hockey center
  • Andrew Geza "Andy" Farkas (1916-2001), American NFL football fullback
  • Vilmos "Willie" Farkas (1935-2016), Hungarian-born, Canadian retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Wolfman
  • Éva Farkas (b. 1960), Hungarian tapestry artist
  • Patrick Farkas (b. 1992), Austrian footballer
  • Norbert Farkas (b. 1977), Hungarian footballer
  • Gizella Farkas (1925-1996), Hungarian twelve-time gold medalist female table tennis player
  • Sándor Bölöni Farkas (1795-1842), also known as Alexander Farkas, Hungarian writer, best known for his journals "Journey in North America" written in 1831
  • Leonardo Julio Farkas Klein (b. 1967), Chilean businessman and philanthropist
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. George Farkas (1842-1914), American Third Class Passenger from Cincinnati, Ohio, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 3


The Farkas Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sto cado fide et amis
Motto Translation: I stand and fall by faith and arms.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html


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