Surname Farquharson - Meaning and Origin

Farquharson: What does the surname Farquharson mean?

The last name Farquharson is an ancient Scottish surname. It is derived from the Gaelic word “fear” meaning “man”, and “cuar” meaning “beloved”. It is thought that the name originated around the 12th century in the Highlands, although the origin of the name is not certain. What is known, however, is that the Farquharson family were influential in Scotland’s history, and were gentry-like in their position.

The Farquharsons of Invercauld are the best known of this family line. They held vast lands and estates in the area, and used their influence and power to support the Scottish crown. Farquharson of Balmoral was a prominent figurehead and advisor to the kings for many centuries. He was known for his leadership, and his strategy in the Battle of Culloden in 1746 was crucial in the victory of the battle for the Scottish government.

The title 'MacFhearquhair' is still used in present day Scotland, and is derived from the original Farquharson name. Today, the Farquharson surname is mostly found in north-east Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The name is still associated with grandeur, class and honour in Scotland, and those who carry the Farquharson last name can look back on their ancestry with pride.

Farquharson: Where does the name Farquharson come from?

The last name Farquharson is most common in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire and Angus. The name, which is derived from the Gaelic phrase "fear-cuairt-son," meaning "son of the eager/watchful one," is thought to have originated in the Scottish Highlands sometime prior to 1200 AD. There is evidence that the Farquharson clan dates back at least as far as the 13th century, when members of the Farquharson family served as hereditary standard bearers to the powerful Gordon clan.

However, over the centuries the Farquharson family has spread across the world, with many descendants settling in countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States. Some areas with a particularly strong concentration of Farquharsons today include Ontario, Canada, Kern County, California, and Siobhan, Georgia.

There are also many people with the name Farquharson who belong to various diaspora populations around the world. For example, there is a large community of Farquharsons living in Nairobi, Kenya, whose families settled in the African nation when people of Scottish descent were first invited to work there in the 1950s.

Overall, Farquharsons can be found in many countries around the world, although there remains a large concentration within Scotland.

Variations of the surname Farquharson

Farquharson is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic phrase 'fear char', which translates to 'son of Car', and is a sept of Clan Farquharson. Variations of the surname include Farquhar, Farquharsohn, Fergusson, Fergeson, Farquesso, Farquhardson and Fergie.

Farquharson is a very recognisable spelling, since it is the original form of the surname. This spelling is also found in many records worldwide, including in England, Scotland, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The variant spellings of Farquharson illustrate the diverse range of ways in which the surname has been recorded over the centuries.

Farquhar is the most common spelling of the name in Scotland. This spelling is found in records throughout the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Fergusson is another popular spelling of the surname, and this variant is especially found in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is also the most frequent spelling found in Canada, the United States and Australia.

Fergeson is a variant spelling of Farquharson that is primarily found in Scotland and the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Farquesso is an uncommon spelling of Farquharson that is found in Scotland, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Farquhardson is a less common spelling of the surname that is found primarily in Scotland, Australasia and the United Kingdom.

Finally, Fergie is a variant spelling of Farquharson that is primarily found in Scotland and Australasia.

Famous people with the name Farquharson

• Colin Farquharson: Scottish golfer
• Rory Farquharson: British investment banker and former partner of Bloomberg LP
• Eric Farquharson: Scottish Member of Parliament
• Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Farquharson: British Army officer
• Peter Farquharson: journalist and writer
• Claudia Farquharson: Scottish harpist
• Mark Farquharson: Australian Football player
• Patrick Farquharson: Canadian handicrafts expert
• Edward Farquharson: English cricketer
• John Keiller Farquharson: Scottish actor and film director

Other surnames

Farquhar