Surname Farquhar - Meaning and Origin

Farquhar: What does the surname Farquhar mean?

The last name Farquhar is of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the words "fearchar," which means "very dear one." It is a patronymic surname, which is formed by adopting the given name of a father or male ancestor. Originally, it was used as both a first and a last name. Over time, it became more popular as a last name, especially in Scotland. In general, the Farquhar family were from the Aberdeenshire region in North East Scotland. The earliest record of the surname dates back to the 13th century. Today, there are variant spellings of the surname including Farquahar, Farker, Faraker, and others. Despite its age and rarity, Farquhar has remained a symbol of Scottish heritage and culture throughout its existence. It is carried by individuals and families who are likely descendants of a lineage bearing tales and remnants of ancient Scottish history.

Farquhar: Where does the name Farquhar come from?

The last name Farquhar is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the old Gaelic personal name "Fearchar", which means "very dear one". The name has early references in Scotland dating back to the 7th century with Farquhar, Bishop of Ross. It was a common name among the Scottish nobility and gentry, particularly in the northeastern region.

Farquhar can also be found as a first name among Scots. The surname was extensively adopted when former clansmen were dispossessed and took the name Farquhar in the 18th and 19th centuries following the Highlander Clearances.

Today, the last name Farquhar remains common in Scotland. It is also relatively prevalent in other English-speaking nations due to the extensive Scottish diaspora during the colonial period. This includes countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where it can often be found among the descendants of Scottish immigrants. However, outside of Scotland and these nations, the name is comparatively rare.

Variations of the surname Farquhar

The surname Farquhar has several variations and spellings due to regional pronunciation differences, transcription errors, and Anglicization. Its primary variant is Farquar, which is commonly found in historical records.

The surname also has of set of Anglicized versions, including Farker, Farkar, Forker, and Forquhar. Additionally, Farquarson is a patronymic variant that means 'son of Farquhar'.

It is important to note that the surname originally derives from the Gaelic personal name 'Fearchar' or 'Ferquhard', which is composed of the elements “fear” (man) and “carr” (dear).

There were multiple people named Farquhar who have been Anglicized to different surnames, such as Ferrar or Fergus, Fergusson and Ferguson.

Reliable sources are required in order to precisely establish the derivation of these surnames and scholars must be careful given the large number of patronyms derived from this popular personal name.

Any relationship would be based on the use of a common personal name rather than indicating a familial relationship. Remember, spelling variations may still have evolved from the same original root. Due to lack of rigid spelling rules in early times, multitudes of spelling variations are found in records of early Scottish names.

Famous people with the name Farquhar

• Danny Farquhar: Former professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB).
• Ralph Farquhar: American television producer and screenwriter known for popular sitcoms "Married with Children" and "Moesha".
• Robert Farquhar: successful 19th-century English dramatist.
• Arthur Farquhar: An industrialist and founder of the Pennsylvania Engineering Company.
• William Farquhar: Officer of the British East India Company, and the first British Resident and Commandant of colonial Singapore.
• A.R.D. Fairburn: Full name Arthur Rex Dugard Farquhar, noted New Zealand poet and pundit.
• Norman Farquhar: Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.
• Lois Farquhar: Australian women's cricket player.
• Farquhar Oliver: longest-serving premier of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.
• Henry Farquhar: renowned American meteorologist.
• Diane Farquhar- American swimmer who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
• Francis Kelly-Farquhar: Australian politician.
• William Farquhar Barry: United States Army officer who served as a Union Army general during the Civil War.
• John Farquhar Fulton: Notable physiologist and historian of science and medicine.
• Horace Farquhar, 1st Earl Farquhar: British financier and politician.
• John M. Farquhar: Medal of Honor recipient in the United States Army.

Other surnames

Farquharson