| ![Show Contents]() Farrish History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland In the mountains of Scotland's west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the Farrish family were born. Their name comes from the Scottish surname MacFergus, which means "son of Fergus", which is in turn derived from the Gaelic personal name "Fearghus," composed of the elements "fear," meaning "man," and "gus," meaning "vigor" or "force." This Gaelic name was found early in both Ireland and Scotland. The name is a cognate of with the Cymric "Gwr-gwst," Old Bret. "Urorgost" and the Pictish word "Forcus." This last Pictish form of the name is found on a monument at St. Vigeans in Angus as "Fercos." Fergus I (fl. 330 B.C.?), "son of Ferchard, was the first king of Scotland, according to the fictitious chronology of Boece and Buchanan, is said to have come to Scotland from Ireland about 330 B.C. to assist the Scots already settled in Scotland against the joint attack of the Picts and Britons. After succeeding in this he is further said to have gone back to Ireland to quell disturbances which had arisen in his absence, and to have been drowned in the passage off the rock or port which got the name of Carrick Fergus from him. " 1 Early Origins of the Farrish familyThe surname Farrish was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway), Ireland where St. Fergus (Fergustian) (circa 730 AD) was an Irish bishop, who went to Scotland as a missionary. He settled near Strageath and founded three churches in Strogeth and two in Caithness. It is possible that he was the Fergustus Pictus who went to Rome in 721 AD. According to Irish lore, a family of this name descend from Fergus, Prince of Galloway (d. 1161), who is said to have married a daughter of Henry I of England. Constantine Mac Fergus (d. 820), was King of the Picts, he "acquired the monarchy by the defeat of Conall Mac Taidg (Teige), who was assassinated in 807 by another Conall, son of Aidan, a Dalriad king in Kintyre. " 1 Early History of the Farrish familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farrish research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1466, 1499, 1582 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Farrish History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Farrish Spelling VariationsSpelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. Farrish has been spelled Fergus, Fergie, Forgie, Forgus, Ferris, Farris and many more. Early Notables of the Farrish familyMore information is included under the topic Early Farrish Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Farrish RankingIn the United States, the name Farrish is the 11,876th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2  Migration of the Farrish family to Ireland
Some of the Farrish family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Farrish migration to the United States | + |
Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Farrishs to arrive on North American shores:
Farrish Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Maria Farrish, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Campania" from Liverpool, England 3
Farrish Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Robert Farrish, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Coamo" from San Juan, Puerto Rico 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Farrish (post 1700) | + |
- Linn Markley Farrish (1901-1944), American gold medalist rugby union player at the 1924 Summer Olympics and alleged spy during World War II, but was later cleared and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
- David Allan Farrish (b. 1956), Canadian retired NHL ice hockey defenceman who played from 1976 to 1990, current assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche (2015-)
| Historic Events for the Farrish family | + |
- Mr. Thomas Farrish, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 4
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Farrish migration to the United States 
