Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Ferguson surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Ferguson mean?

The origin of the Ferguson surname is Scottish. The name is patronymic, and refers to somebody who was the son or of the lineage of someone with the given name Fergus. Even today, the name is most popular north of the Anglo-Scottish border.

Alternative variations of the name Ferguson

Ferguson, Fergusson, Fergison, Fergason, Fergusone

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Fergusons.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Ferguson family's history

Where do most Fergusons live?

In 1921, most Fergusons lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Fergusons

How common is your surname?

263rd most common surname in the UK

We have 165,000 records for the Ferguson surname. The oldest one dates back to 1264.

Who were Fergusons most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Browns

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Fergusons.

What are the most common Ferguson first names?

  • John
  • James
  • Mary
  • Margaret

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Ferguson family members

Common jobs for Fergusons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Fergusons in 1921
Dressmaker

994

Domestic Servant

707

Housekeeper

594

F S

570

House Keeper

424

Common Male occupations for Fergusons in 1921
Coal Miner

1,379

Joiner

643

Farmer

587

Tailor

565

General Labourer

556

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 170,000 family trees with the Ferguson surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Fergusons.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial