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Ferguson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Ferguson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland-Alt
Scotland

The Ferguson surname comes from the Irish Gaelic Ó Fearghuis or Ó Fearghasa, meaning "descendant of Fearghus," a Gaelic personal name composed of the elements "fear," meaning "man," and "gus," thought to mean "vigor," or "force." Fearghus was the name of an early Irish mythological King of Ulster, a valiant warrior said to have been shipwrecked off the coast of Northern Ireland c. AD 320, at the place known as Carrickfergus ("rock of Fergus"). 1

Early Origins of the Ferguson family

The surname Ferguson was first found in Connacht, especially in County Mayo, where they held the Parish of Burrishoole in 1303, and were hereditary physicians to the powerful O'Malleys.

"The Ferris variant is more numerous both in the old records and today than Fergus. It is well known in Keryy and in Ulster, where it has several synonyms in use including Fairy and O'Ferry, which however are properly anglicizations of Ó Fearadhaigh, a Cenél sept. There are 27 families of Ferris in the 1911 census of Co. Kerry and the name was there at least as early as 1586. " 2

Early History of the Ferguson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ferguson research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1571, 1750, 1809 and 1828 are included under the topic Early Ferguson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferguson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fergus, O'Fergus, Fargus, O'Fargus, Ferris, Ferguson and many more.

Early Notables of the Ferguson family

Notable among the family name at this time was Father Cormac O'Fergus, who went from Cork to Lisbon, Portugal in 1571. He was imprisoned while preaching at Clonmel. Richard Ferris...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ferguson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ferguson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ferguson is the 156^th most popular surname with an estimated 146,733 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Ferguson is ranked the 115^th most popular surname with an estimated 25,988 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name Ferguson is the 108^th popular surname with an estimated 24,611 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks Ferguson as 156^th with 3,239 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Ferguson as 157^th with 33,552 people. 7

Ferguson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ferguson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Ferguson, who landed in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630 8
Daniel Ferguson, who settled in New England in 1651
Agnes Ferguson, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 8
Elspeth Ferguson, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 8
Gilbert Ferguson, who arrived in East New Jersey in 1685 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferguson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Lawrence Ferguson, who landed in Virginia in 1716 8
Henry Ferguson, who landed in Maryland in 1716 8
Finlow Ferguson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 8
Duncan Ferguson, who arrived in Maryland in 1716 8
Duncan Ferguson, who settled in Virginia in 1716
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferguson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Ferguson, who arrived in America in 1805 8
Thomas Ferguson, who arrived in America in 1805 8
Andw Ferguson, who landed in America in 1805 8
Matthew Ferguson, who arrived in America in 1811 8
Robert Ferguson, who arrived in America in 1811 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferguson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Marie Ferguson, aged 19, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Liverpool, England 9
Annie Ferguson, aged 37, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 9

Ferguson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ferguson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Ferguson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Henry Ferguson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. Alexander Ferguson U.E. who settled in New Brunswick c. 1784 he is listed with the Loyalists and Disbanded Soldiers whose names appear as Passamaquoddy New Brunswick Loyalists 10
Mr. Alexander Ferguson U.E. who settled in Eastern District, Cornwall, Ontario c. 1784 10
Mr. Farrington Ferguson U.E. who settled in Marysburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1784 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferguson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Ferguson, aged 33, Scottish mason who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815 with his wife
Robert Ferguson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1815
John Ferguson, aged 50, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Catherine Ferguson, aged 42, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Margaret Ferguson, aged 17, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferguson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ferguson Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Miss Frances Ferguson, (Grosvenor), English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11

Ferguson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Ferguson, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. George Ferguson, (b. 1802), aged 18, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1868 13
Mr. John Ferguson, British Convict who was convicted in Newark-on-Trent (Newark upon Trent), Lincolnshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
John Ferguson, a weaver, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Robert Ferguson, a weaver, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ferguson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ferguson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Donald Ferguson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Blenheim
J Ferguson, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
John Ferguson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Blenheim
Donald Ferguson, aged 36, a miller, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Mary Ferguson, aged 35, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ferguson (post 1700) +

Charles Edward "Charley" Ferguson (1939-2023), American AFL tight end with the Buffalo Bills and NFL player with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings
Jaylon O’Neal Ferguson (1995-2022), American football outside linebacker and defensive end of the National Football League (NFL); he died in Baltimore on June 21, 2022, aged 26
Art Ferguson (1944-2016), known professionally as Charlie Tuna, American radio personality and game show announcer
Helaman Rolfe Pratt Ferguson (b. 1940), American sculptor and digital artist
Robert Bruce "Bob" Ferguson (1927-2001), American songwriter and record producer
James Edward "Pa" Ferguson (1871-1944), American Democratic politician from the state of Texas and 26th Governor of Texas
Captain Christopher J. Ferguson (b. 1961), American NASA Astronaut with over 40 days in space 15
Elsie Louise Ferguson (1885-1961), American stage and film actress
Homer Samuel Ferguson (1889-1982), American politician and lawyer, Senator from Michigan
Des Ferguson (1930-2021), Irish Gaelic footballer who played for the Dublin county team
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ferguson family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Mark W Ferguson (1966-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Kingsport, Tennessee, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 16
Mr. James A Ferguson (1955-1985), American Sergeant from Orange Park, Florida, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 16

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Ronald Ferguson, British Marconi Operator from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 17
A. C. Ferguson, Canadian Third Class Passenger from Montreal, Quebec, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland (1914) 18

Halifax Explosion

Mr. George A. Ferguson, Canadian Government Railway Worker from who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Kenneth Charles Ferguson (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Shorncliffe, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20
Mr. David Wallace Ferguson (1922-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Berala, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. George Cuthbert Irwin Ferguson (b. 1903), English Lieutenant Commander from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. William W Ferguson, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22

Ibrox disaster

Margaret Oliver Ferguson (1953-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Stirlingshire who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people she died of her injuries 23

North Sea Flood

James Miller Ferguson, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

RMS Lusitania

Mr. John Ferguson, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 24
Master Edward Ferguson, American 3rd Class passenger from Newark, New Jersey, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 25
Mrs. Mary Ferguson, American 3rd Class passenger from Newark, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 25

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Christopher Ferguson. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ferguson.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/