Scottish Surnames

FAAL
A rocky place.

FAIRBAIRN
A handsome child.

Fairbairn, Andrew Martin (1834-1912) of Inverkeithing. Theologian, known for his brilliant essays in the Contemporary review and his Studies of the Philosophy of Religion in History (1876).

Fairbairn, Sir William (1789-1874) of Kelso. Civil and mechanical engineer and inventor. First in the utilisation of iron in shipbuilding. Devised a riveting machine. Built a thousand bridges. Elected FRS in 1850.

FAIRFAX
Fair hair - from faex, hair. The family were seated at Torcester in Northumberland, before the Conquest, but afterwards moved to Yorkshire; and from thence some branches settled in Scotland - Richard Fairfax was living at Askam in Yorkshire in 1205. Motto: "Fare Fac."

FAIRHOLM
A beautiful island.

FAIRLIE, Robert Francis (1831-85). Scottish engineer and inventor of a railway engine with pivoted driving bogies in 1863, allowing trains to negotiate tighter bends.

FALCONER
The family are descended from Walter de Lenorp, whose son Ranulph was Falconer to William the Lion ; they bear a falcon in their arms.

Falconer, Hugh (1808-65) of Forres. Botanist. Made the first ex-periments in growing tea in India. Became Professor of Botany at Calcutta in 1847.

Falconer, Ion Keith (1856-87) third son of the Earl of Kintore. Orientalist, missionary and athlete. A keen cyclist, he defeated the then (1878) fastest man in the world. Was Professor of Arabic at Cambridge. Settled at Shaikh Othman, near Aden as a Free Church missionary where he died of a fever.

Falconer, William (1732-69) of Edinburgh. Poet. Wrote 'The Shipwreck', a stirring poem of his experiences on an East Indiaman.

FARMER
A cultivator of the ground.

FARQUHAR
An honest man; from fear, a man, and coir, honest.

FARQUHARSON
The family are descended from Donald Farquharson, the son of Farquhar, Chamberlain of Mar, temp. Robert II, who was a son of Shaw Macduff, a scion of the Thanes of Fife.

Farquharson, David (1840-1907) of Blairgowrie. Painter, who specialised in landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Cornish Coast.

Farquharson, Sir James (1903-) of Angus. Chief Engineer Tanganyika Railways (1941-45) and General Manager (1945-48), and many other important posts in East Africa.

FELL
Fierce, violent.

FERGUSON
The son of Fergus, which signifies a brave chieftain - John Fergusson, "Dominus de Craigdarroch" early in the fourteenth century, is the first on record.

Ferguson, Adam (1723-1816) of Perthshire. Philosopher and historian. Prof. of Mathematics and Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh Univ. (1764-85). His principal works incl. Essays on the History of Civil Society (1765) and History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic (1782). Sir Walter Scott was his intimate friend.

Ferguson, James (1710-76) of Rothiemay, Banffshire. Eminent scientific lecturer, astronomer and portrait painter. Fellow of the Royal Society.

Ferguson, Patrick (1744-80) of Pitfour, Aberdeenshire. Inventor of a breech-loading rifle. In 1776 he patented his rifle, which was capable of firing seven shots a minute and sighted for ranges 100 to 500 yards.

Ferguson, Robert (1637-1714) of Alford, Aberdeenshire. Called The Plotter', he played, for ten years, a leading role in every treasonable scheme against the last two Stuart kings.

Ferguson, William A. (1902-) of Glasgow. Secretary British Museum (Natural History) (1959-). Finance Officer, British Museums (1953-59).

Ferguson, William Gow (c.l632-c.l695). Scottish painter of still life who spent most of his career in the Netherlands.

Fergusson, Sir Bernard (1911-). Brigadier and wartime Chindit leader. Director Combined Operations (1945-46). Governor-General of New Zealand (1962-67).

Fergusson, Sir Ewan (1897-) of Coatbridge? Chairman and Managing Director, the Straits Trading Co. Ltd., Singapore, 1947-. Chairman, Singapore Chamber of Commerce (1946-53).

Fergusson, James (1808-86) of Ayr. Agricultural historian. Compiled the first general history of agriculture. Travelled through India. studied Indian rock temples, wrote on fortifications and archaeology. Author of a popular History of Architecture (1865-67), and a book on the use of earthworks in fortifications.

Fergusson, Sir James (1832-1907) of Edinburgh. Statesman. Governor of South Australia (1868-73), of New Zealand (1873-74) and of Bombay (1880-85). He perished in the earthquake of 1907 at Kingston, Jamaica.

Fergusson, Robert (1750-74) of Edinburgh. Poet, sometimes des-cribed as Scotland's second greatest poet. Robert Burns was greatly influenced by his poems which were first published in 1773.

Fergusson, Sir William (1808-77) of Prestonpans. Surgeon. Presi-dent of the Royal College of Surgeons, London (1870-). Elected FRS.

FERRIER
Local: from Ferrieres, a town in Gastinois, France.

Ferrier, Sir David (1843-1928) of Aberdeen. Neurologist. Joined the staff of King's Coll., London where he was appointed to the specially created Chair of Neurothology in 1887. Best remembered for his work on the localization of brain functions, on which he was ahead of his time.

Ferrier, John (1761-1815) from near Jedburgh. Poet, doctor and critic. At Manchester, where he became a doctor to the Infirmary, he campaigned for better sanitary laws.

Ferrier, Susan Edmonstone (1782-1854) of Edinburgh. Novelist. Her first work Marriage (1818) was followed by The Inheritance (1824) and by Destiny (1831) which was considered her best novel.

Ferrier, Victor, 1st Baron of Culter (life peer) (1900-) of Edinburgh. Sometime Director, Imperial Bank of India, and President, Bombay Chamber of Commerce.

FETTES, Sir William (1750-1836). Founder of Fettes College, Edinburgh.

FIFE, or Phyfe, Sir Duncan. Scottish cabinetmaker who became famous in America.

FINDLATER, Andrew (1810-85) ofAberdour. Editor. Edited the first edition of Chamber's Encyclopaedia (1860-68). Wrote manuals on astronomy, philology, physical geography and physiography.

FINDLAY, Alexander (1874-). Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. Was examiner in chemistry at Univ's. of Aberdeen, Durham, London, Wales, St Andrews and New Zealand. Visited India and S. Africa on behalf of the Royal Institute of Chemistry (1947-48).

FINDLAY, Alexander J., (1886-) of Aberdeen. Director of Agricul-ture, Zanzibar (1931-37). Commissioner for the Colonial Exhibition, World's Fair, New York (1939-40).

FINLAISON, John (1783-1860) of Thurso, Caithness. Government actuary for the National Debt and Chief Government Calculator. He rose to be President of the Institute of Actuaries. His most important work was in helping the Civil Service to organize the establishment of a national system for the registration of births, deaths and marriages, which came in 1837.

FINLAY, Robert B., Viscount Finlay (1842-1929) of Edinburgh. Called to the English Bar in 1867. Became Solicitor-General (1895-1900), Attorney General (1900-06), Lord Chancellor (1916-19) and in 1920, appointed member of the Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration.

FINLAYSON, Horace (1885-1969) of Aberdeen. Professor of Politics and Public Administration, Chinese Govt. Univ., Peking (1910). Technical Adviser to the Bank of Greece under League of Nations Reconstruction Scheme (1828-37). In Intelligence Branch, Ministry of Economic Warfare (1939-45).

FINLAYSON, James, an Ayrshire farmer invented a self-cleaning harrow or grubber in 1820.

FINNIE
Sincere.

FINNISTON, Sir Harold Montague (Monty) (1912-) of Glasgow. Metallurgist. Chairman of the British Steel Corporation (1973-76).

FISHER
A fisherman.

Fisher, Andrew (1862-1929) of Kilmarnock. Prime Minister of Australia (1908-09) and (1910-13).

FLECK, Sir Alexander (1889-1968) of Saltcoats. Industrialist. By 1931 was managing Director of the General Chemical Div. of the Imperial Chemical Industry. During World War II his main responsibility was to maintain supplies of explosives. Became Chairman ICI in 1953. Elected FRS in 1955.

FLEMING
A native of Flanders.

Fleming, Sir Alexander (1881-1955) of Darvel, Strathclyde. Bacteriologist. Discovered Penicillin in 1928. Elected FRS in 1943. Nobel Prize winner for Medicine in 1945.

Fleming, John M. (1911-) of Bathgate. Economist. Visiting professor Columbia Univ., New York (1951-54). Adviser, International Monetary Fund (1959) and Deputy Director, Research Dept. International Monetary Fund (1964-).

Fleming, Margaret (1903-11) of Kirkcaldy. Child author known as Pet Marjorie. She wrote verses and a diary, which were later published.

Fleming, Sir Sandford (1827-1915) of Kirkcaldy. Canadian engineer. Took a prominent part in railway development in Upper Canada. Chief Engineer, Northern Railways (1855-63). The originator of 'Standard Time'.

Fleming, Tom (1927-) of Edinburgh. Actor, Director, Poet, Author and radio and TV commentator (since 1952). Gave outstanding performances as an actor in Jesus of Nazareth and An Age of Kings.

FLETCHER
An arrow maker - they bear four arrow heads in their arms.

Fletcher, Andrew (1655-1716) of East Lothian. Statesman and political writer. Opposed the union of the crowns and advocated federation rather than incorporation. Introduced various improvements in agriculture. Was noted for his saying "Give me the making of the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws" which occurs in his Conversation concerning a Right Regulation of Government for the Common Good of Mankind (1703).

FORBES
An old tradition records that in 870, Solvathius Forbes married Moravilla, daughter of King Gregory the Great. Another account states that, one Achonacher came from Ireland to Scotland about the end of the twelfth centu-ry, and having slain a monstrous wild boar, took the name of For-bear, afterwards turned to Forbeas, and used a boar's head in his arms to commemorate the deed. In the southeast corner of the parish of Au-chindon, is a spring, called the Nine Maidens "Well, near which nine virgins were slain by a wild boar. The boar was afterwards killed by a young chief of the name of Forbes, the lover of one of the maidens. From this circumstance, the boar's head is now borne by the Forbes in their arms. This chieftain, who was named John de Forbes, was owner of the lands of Forbes in 1214 ; his son, Fergus de Forbes, was father of Alexander Forbes, whose son, Alexander Forbes, was the father of Sir John Forbes, who had three sons, Sir Alexander, Sir William, and Sir John: and from these three brothers are descended the families of Forbes.

Forbes, Archibald (1838-1900). Scottish war correspondent for The Daily News on the Franco-Russian War, the Carlist revolt, the Russo-Turkish campaign and the Zulu war.

Forbes, Sir Archibald (1903-) of Johnstone, Renfrewshire. Chairman, Midland Bank Ltd. and Midland International Bank Ltd. (1964-).

Forbes, Sir Douglas (1890-) of Aberdeen. Director, National Bank of Australia Ltd. (1948-67).

Forbes, Duncan (1685-1747) of Culloden, Inverness-shire. Advocate. Became Lord President of the Court of Sessions in 1737.

Forbes, Gilbert (1908-) of Glasgow. Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine. Senior Lecturer on Forensic Medicine, Univ. of Shef-field (1948-56). Examiner in Forensic Medicine Univs. of Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Forbes, James D. (1809-68) of Edinburgh. Scientist and writer. Was one of the founders of the British Association in 1831. His investigations and discoveries embraced the subjects of heat, light polarization and especially glaciers.

Forbes, Sir John (1787-1861) of Cuttlebrae, Banffshire. Physician. Was joint editor of the Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine (1832-35). Translated the works of Auenbrugger and Laennec and thus advocated the use of the stethoscope in this country.

FORDOUN, John (-d.l384)of Fordoun. Is the chief authority for Scottish history before 1400.

FORESTER
A woodman. The family are descended from Sir Adam Forrester, temp. Robert II; they bear three bugle horns in their arms.

FORRESTER, Charles of Edinburgh. Scientific consultant. Professor of Chemistry, Indian School of Mines (1926), Scientific Officer of the British Coal Utilisation Research Assoc. (1960-63). Held many important posts in India in fuel research.

FORSYTH, Alexander John (1768-1843) of Belhelvie, Aberdeen-shire. Inventor and clergyman. In 1807 patented his application of the detonating principle in firearms, which was followed by the adaptation of the percussion cap (1808). He was pensioned by the British Govt. after refusing to sell the secret to Napoleon.

FORSYTH, Andrew (1858-1942) of Glasgow. Mathematician and lecturer. By 1890 was recognised as the most brilliant pure mathematician in the British Empire.

FORSYTH, lan M. (1892-1969) of Anstruther. UK Delegate to the European Coal Organization (1946-47). Under-Sec. Ministry of Fuel and Power (1946-52).

FORSYTH, William (1737-1804) of Old Meldrum. Gardener who became, in 1784, Superintendent of the Royal Gardens of St James and Kensington. Published several works on diseases, etc. in fruit. The shrub 'Forsythia' bears his name.

FORTUNE, Robert (1813-80) of Berwickshire. Botanist. Travelled extensively in the East, for the London Botanical Society, and introduced many oriental plants into Britain.

FOTHERINGHAM
A house supplying food.

FOULIS
The name is derived from an ancestor of the family, a Norman, bearing three leaves, called feuilles, in his arms.

FOUNTAIN
Assumed on account of residence near a spring or well.

FRANCE
A native of France.

FRAZER
The family is of Norman origin, and assumed their name from the three fraises or strawberry leaves in their arms. About the year 794, Pierre Fraser, the Seigneur de Troile, was sent as an ambassador by Charlemagne to Achaius, king of Scotland. He married Euphemia, daugh-ter of Rahan, a favorite of Achaius, and from this marriage sprang the Scottish Frazers. The fact of Simon being the most frequently used Christian name in the family, has caused the name in the Highlands to be corrupted to Mac Shimes and thence contracted to Mclmmey.

Frazer, Sir James George (1854-1941) of Glasgow. Social Anthropologist, Folklorist, and Classical Scholar. Appointed Professor of Social Anthropology at Liverpool in 1907. His major work is The Golden Bough (12 vols.) a study in magic and religion which was published in 1890.

Fraser, Alexander (1827-99) Scottish landscape painter.

Fraser, Bill (1908-) of Perth. Comic and Character actor. Played many parts in films and TV. Made his name on TV as 'Snudge' in The Army Game. His films incl. Up Pompeii, Up The Chastity Belt and Doctor at Large.

Fraser, Douglas (1916-) of Glasgow. Elected leader, in 1977, of America's most powerful Union-United Auto Workers.

Fraser, Francis C. (1903-) of Dingwall. Keeper of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) (1957-). Took part in 'Discovery' investigations (1925-33), and Danish 'Atlantide' expedition. West Africa (1945-46).

Fraser, James Baillie (1783-1856) of Inverness-shire. Traveller, Man of Letters and Explorer. Explored in the Himalayas and travelled ex-tensively in India and Persia.

Fraser, John (1750-1811) of Inverness-shire. Botanist. Introduced many plants to Britain from America and Cuba. Was botanical collecter to the Czar of Russia (1797-98).

Fraser, (John) Malcolm (1930-). His ancestors left Fortrose in early 1800s. Leader of the Australian Liberal Party. Prime Minister of Australia (1975-).

Fraser, Malcolm, (1920-90) of New York, Son of a Scottish tailor. Billionaire publisher. Founder of Forbes magazine, the world's leading business magazine. He owned much property in New York.

Fraser, Peter (1884-1950) of Fearn, Ross and Cromarty. Helped to organize the New Zealand Labour Party. Prime Minister of New Zealand (1940-49).

Fraser, (Richard Michael Fraser) of Kilmorack. Life peer (1915-) of Rubislaw, Aberdeen. Director of Glaxo Holdings Ltd. (1975-). Sec. to the Conservative Leaders Consultative Comm. (Shadow Cabinet) (1964-70).

Fraser, Ronald (1930-) of Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Actor on stage and screen. Appeared in many films incl. The Sundowners, The Best of Enemies, The Castaways, Paper Tiger and many others. His TV films incl. The Misfit, Mr Big, The Sweeney and Spooner's Patch.

Fraser, Simon (1776-1862). American of Scottish descent. Fur trader and explorer. Explored the Red River and the Fraser River, which is named after him. He was the first to descend the Fraser River to the sea in 1808.

Fraser, Thomas C. (1909-) of Aberdeen. Director Commission on Inquiry into Industrial Relations (1970). Chairman Economic Development Commission for wool textile industry (1971-).

Fraser, Sir Thomas Richard (1841-1920), born in Calcutta of Scottish parents. Pharmacologist. Chairman, Indian Plague Commission (1891-09). President of the Assoc. of Physicians of Gt. Britain and Ireland (1908-09).

Fraser-DARLING, Sir Frank (1903-) of Edinburgh? President, Conservation Foundation, Washington D.C. Hon. Trustee, National Parks of Kenya. Member, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollu-tion (1970-)

FREER
A friar, a monk.

FULLARTON
Local: from the lands of Fullarton in Ayrshire. The family are descended from Godfridus Fullarton of Fullarton, temp. Robert Bruce.

FULTON, Sir John Scott (1902-) of Dundee. Vice-Chancellor of Univ. of Sussex (1959-). Principal, Univ. Coll., Swansea (1947-59), Chair-man, Commission on educational requirements of Sierra Leone (1954) and the BBC and ITA Liaison Advisory Committee on Adult Educational Programmes (1962-).

FYFE
Local: from the district of Fife.

Fyfe, Sir William H. (1878-1965) of Edinburgh? Principal and Vice-chancellor of Queen's Univ., Kingston, Ontario (1930-36) and of the Univ. of Aberdeen (1936-48).

Fyffe, Will (1885-1947) of Dundee. Music hall comedian. Considered one of the best pantomime comedians of his day. One of his most popular songs is I Belong to Glasgow'.

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