This is an anglicized form of the Scots Gaelic name Mac Pheadruis. The Gaelic prefix 'm(a)c' means 'son of', plus the personal name Peadar, the Gaelic form of Peter from the Greek 'Petros' meaning 'rock'. The surname is first recorded in Scotland at the beginning of the 16th Century, (see below). One, Donald McPeteris was tenant of Kilkyne, Tiree, in 1541. The spelling McFetheris is recorded in that year also. A Gilbert McFedris of Knokyn was juror on an inquisition in the Kyle - Stewart bailiary in 1587 - 'The Register of the great seal of Scotland' in Edinburgh. In his 'History of the counties of Ayr and Wigtown', James Paterson states that Mc Phedrice is an old form of the name in Galloway, and Mac Phedderis in Ballantrae parish. In the modern idiom the name has four spelling variations M(a)cfetridge, Macfedries, Macfedris and MacPhetrish. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Makfedderis, which was dated 1503 - The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland, during the reign of James IV of Scotland 1488 - 1513. 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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