From Ó Fearghuis, ‘descendant of Fearghus’ — hereditary physicians to the O'Malleys in County Mayo, sharing a name with the mythical king behind Carrickfergus.
The Fergus certificate.
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Gaelic Origin · Root meaning ‘man of vigour, force’
Fergus anglicises Ó Fearghuis or Ó Fearghasa, ‘descendant of Fearghus’ — built from fear (‘man’) and gus (‘vigour’ or ‘force’). The family were first found in Connacht, particularly County Mayo, where they held the parish of Burrishoole from 1303 and served as hereditary physicians to the powerful O'Malleys.
The same personal name belongs to the legendary king said to have been shipwrecked off the Antrim coast — Carrickfergus, ‘the rock of Fergus’, still marks the spot.
Irish form: Ó Fearghuis
