NameCensus.

UK surname

Fergus

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Fearghas" meaning "man of force" or "virile".

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Fergus surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,017, ranked #5,729, up from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Isles and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fergus is 1,066 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.6%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

1,017

2016, ranked #5,729

Peak year

2009

1,066 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fergus had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,017 in 2016, ranked #5,729.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 655 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Fergus surname distribution map

The map shows where the Fergus surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Fergus surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fergus over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 436 #5,639
1861 historical 501 #5,220
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 552 #6,859
1901 historical 655 #6,599
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 966 #5,645
1998 modern 1,003 #5,663
1999 modern 1,025 #5,603
2000 modern 1,033 #5,534
2001 modern 995 #5,597
2002 modern 996 #5,710
2003 modern 1,004 #5,573
2004 modern 999 #5,607
2005 modern 1,005 #5,526
2006 modern 1,008 #5,530
2007 modern 1,017 #5,533
2008 modern 1,042 #5,459
2009 modern 1,066 #5,470
2010 modern 1,062 #5,597
2011 modern 993 #5,853
2012 modern 985 #5,816
2013 modern 1,011 #5,770
2014 modern 1,008 #5,821
2015 modern 998 #5,817
2016 modern 1,017 #5,729

Geography

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Where Fergus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock, Glasgow and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Isles, County Durham, Pitlochry and Birmingham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 009 Scarborough
2 Isles Orkney Islands
3 County Durham 032 County Durham
4 Pitlochry Perth and Kinross
5 Birmingham 041 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fergus

These lists show first names that appear often with the Fergus surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fergus

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fergus, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Fergus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Fergus household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fergus is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fergus is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fergus falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fergus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fergus, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fergus

The surname Fergus originated in Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic name Fearghas, which means "man of force" or "virile". The name can be traced back to the 5th century AD and is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Fergus dates back to the 12th century. It appears in the Book of Deer, an illuminated manuscript that contains the oldest surviving Gaelic writing from Scotland. The manuscript mentions a man named Fergus, who was a cleric in the monastery of Deer in Aberdeenshire.

In the 13th century, the name Fergus appeared in the Ragman Rolls, a series of historical documents that recorded the submission of Scottish nobles to King Edward I of England. One of the signatories was a certain Fergus de Ardrossan, a landholder from Ayrshire.

The Fergus surname has also been linked to several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous was Fergus Mor MacErc, a legendary king of Dál Riata who is said to have lived in the 6th century AD. According to tradition, he was the first king of Scottish descent to rule in Scotland.

Another notable Fergus was Fergus of Galloway, a 12th-century prince who ruled over the region of Galloway in southwestern Scotland. He is mentioned in various historical chronicles and is known for his involvement in the political struggles of the time.

In the 15th century, a man named Fergus MacDowall was the chief of the Clan MacDougall, a prominent Scottish clan based in Argyll. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fergus surname in North America dates back to the 18th century. In 1773, a man named John Fergus emigrated from Scotland to Virginia, where he became a prominent landowner and civic leader.

The Fergus surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland. The town of Ferguslie in Renfrewshire is believed to have been named after a person named Fergus, while the village of Fergushill in Ayrshire may have a similar origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fergus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fergus surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 227 Fergus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.30x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 227 13.30x
Stirlingshire 45 23.12x
Renfrewshire 33 8.07x
Midlothian 29 4.10x
Yorkshire 25 0.48x
Fife 23 7.36x
Dunbartonshire 17 11.99x
Perthshire 13 5.49x
East Lothian 12 17.17x
Lancashire 12 0.19x
Staffordshire 10 0.56x
Orkney 9 15.50x
Angus 8 1.64x
Lincolnshire 8 0.95x
Northumberland 8 1.02x
Hampshire 6 0.55x
Kinross-shire 6 44.98x
Ayrshire 5 1.27x
Cheshire 5 0.43x
Shetland 5 9.28x
Cumberland 4 0.88x
Middlesex 4 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.61x
Berwickshire 3 4.69x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.63x
Buteshire 2 6.25x
Caithness 2 2.77x
Durham 2 0.13x
Kent 2 0.11x
Surrey 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.22x
Wiltshire 2 0.43x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.47x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.29x
Inverness-shire 1 0.63x
Selkirkshire 1 2.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 87 Fergus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.14x.

Place Total Index
Barony 87 20.14x
Glasgow 54 17.82x
Govan 52 12.32x
Kilsyth 19 153.10x
Dunfermline 17 35.39x
Abbey 15 24.04x
South Leith 15 18.86x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 4.92x
Carnwath 11 104.27x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 11 575.92x
Newcastle Under Lyme 10 31.73x
Stirling 10 40.75x
Whitby 10 56.75x
Logie 9 105.88x
Campsie 8 74.91x
East Kilbride 8 109.44x
Holbeach 8 85.11x
Old Kilpatrick 8 47.73x
Dumbarton 7 35.46x
Hound 6 81.74x
Kinross 6 131.29x
Wiston Robertson 6 588.24x
Kirkwall St Ola 5 57.47x
Northmavine 5 121.95x
Stockport 5 8.34x
West Greenock 5 6.81x
Kilbarchan 4 32.21x
Largs 4 43.01x
Middlesbrough 4 5.87x
Monifieth 4 23.16x
Ormesby 4 28.47x
St Cuthbert W O 4 18.06x
St Pancras London 4 0.94x
Stronsay Eday 4 105.26x
Thropton 4 833.33x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 3.28x
Burnley 3 5.69x
Cadder 3 23.79x
Dunipace 3 87.98x
East Greenock 3 7.77x
Falkirk 3 6.58x
Greenlaw 3 132.74x
Liff Benvie 3 4.04x
Markinch 3 28.28x
Paisley High Church 3 9.21x
Perth St Pauls 3 54.74x
Blackburn 2 1.20x
Bower 2 68.73x
Brighton 2 1.11x
Greatham 2 150.38x
Halifax 2 2.61x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 2 114.94x
Lambeth 2 0.43x
Linslade 2 63.90x
Longbenton 2 6.01x
Marlborough St Peter St 2 83.33x
Maryhill 2 5.99x
Rutherglen 2 7.99x
Sheffield 2 1.20x
St Leonards 2 142.86x
St Ninians 2 10.37x
Barra 1 25.45x
Birmingham 1 0.23x
Cambuslang 1 5.81x
Chatham 1 2.02x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.72x
Dundee 1 0.55x
Holy Trinity 1 0.80x
Kinloch 1 217.39x
Kirkintilloch 1 5.19x
Liverpool 1 0.26x
Llanbeblig 1 4.62x
Melrose 1 8.32x
Preston 1 0.60x
Rishton 1 13.62x
Roseneath 1 36.76x
Seaton Delaval 1 14.49x
Stenton 1 93.46x
Toxteth Park 1 0.47x
Westgate 1 2.06x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fergus surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fergus surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 6
James 5
Michael 3
Patrick 3
Henry 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
William 2
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Duncan 1
Frank 1
George 1
Gilbert 1
Joseph 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Fergus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fergus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Fergus surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fergus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,017 in 2016. That gives Fergus a modern rank of #5,729.

What does the Fergus surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name "Fearghas" meaning "man of force" or "virile".

What does the Fergus map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fergus bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.