This interesting Scottish surname is a patronymic form of Fergus, itself from the Gaelic personal name "Fearghus", composed of the elements "fear" meaning man plus "gus" vigour or force. A Feargus, late in the 5th Century, with his brother Angus, led the Scots from Ireland to the country since called scotland; they took with them to Scone the Stone of Destiny, now in the Coronation Chair. Ten Celtic saints bore the name. It is in Scotland that Fergus is popular today. Fergie and Fargie being the short forms. Gillebertus filius (son of) Fergusi, is noted in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland (1180). The surname is first found in the late 12th Century (see below). One, John Fergus, appears as witness in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire (1251). Mr. Alexander Fargy, was a member of the General Assembly, Scotland (1581). On September 5th 1675, Jacobus, son of Richari and Catherinae Fargie, was christened at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster. Bartholomew, son of Stephen and Jane Fargie, was christened on July 9th 1695, at St. Ann Blackfriars, London. The christening of John, son of John and Ann Fargie, took place at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London, on August 8th 1750. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Feregus, which was dated 1199, Pipe Rolls of Cumberland, during the reign of King Richard 1, "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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