ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1543 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1543 ************************************ 15 Feb 1999 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for information about the surname . This letter is a brief answer to your question. is a variant of the Scottish surname or . It derives from the Gaelic given name , spelled before 1200 or so [1]. We found some early examples of the given name and surname. Most of the earlier names appeared in Latin records, most of the later ones in Scots records. Scots was a language closely related to English, spoken in the Lowlands from the 14th century onward. The variation in spelling resulted from scribes attempting to record the sound of the Gaelic name in another language [2, 3]. Ferchart, before 1178 Farhard, a judge, before 1200 Malmur mac Hercar, c.1200 Ferkar, earl of Ross, 1224-31 Fercardus filius Seth, 1234 Feruware c.1240 Macbeth filius Ferchware, 1283 Fercard, dean of Caithness, 1306 Farguhar Macintosh, 1382 Farquhars of Gilmnscroft, end of the 14th century Andro Fachare, burgess of Are, 1450 Farthquhare, a tackman of Warbust, 1492 Schir Matlow Farcar., cleric in 1514. Also . Andrew Ferquhar, burgess of Montrose 1526 Johannes Ferchar, 1527 Andro Pharquhair, 1543 Farair, 1550 (surname) Fairhar, 1586 (surname) Farchar, 1596 (surname) Thomas Forquhair, 1625 We hope this brief letter has been useful. Please write us again if you have any questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Jim Trigg, Andrea Hicks, Sara Friedemann, and Brian M. Scott. For the Academy, Josh Mittleman 15 Feb 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990), s.n. Ferchar. [2] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Farquhar. [3] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.n. Farquhar.