ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2600
http://www.s-gabriel.org/2600
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From: Sara L Friedemann 
10 Nov 2002

Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel!

You wanted to know how a 14th century Scots man named <Fergus> would
have been identified while he was living in France.  Here is the
information we have found.

<Fergus> is a Scots form of the Gaelic name <Fearghus>; it is found
in Anglo-Norman and Scots sources as early as the 12th century,
when we find a <Gillebertus fillius Fergusi> in 1180 and <Fergus
filius Suein> 1188.  Other, non-Latin examples, are <Gilbert Feregus>
1199 and <John Fergus> 1251.  The surname <Fergusson> also appears
in 1466. [1]  It is a fine choice for your given name.

We are not certain what form <Fergus> would have taken in France;
we have very limited sources for Scotsmen in France, and none of
the men listed are named <Fergus>. [2]

The French byname meaning "the Scot" or "Scottish" is <l'Escot>.
This specific form is found in Paris in 1292, and other forms
found in 14th century Picardy include <li Escos>, <Lescot>,
<Lecot>, and <Escote>. [3,4]  Any of these forms would be appropriate,
but there is a more likely alternative for a man in your position:
A nobleman holding land in France would often have a surname that
derived from his holdings.  If you are interested in pursuing this
option, please write us again and we can offer suggestions for
appropriate surnames.

We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't
hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have
further questions.  Research and commentary on this letter was
provided by Arval Benicoeur and Talan Gwynek.

For the Academy,
-Argantgui filia Catmaili, 10Nov02

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References

[1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ 
(London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.nn. Fergus, 
Ferguson

[2] Effrick neyn Kennyeoch, "Note on the Names of Scots in France"
research in progress.

[3] Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris", 
Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium 1996 (SCA: Montgomery, 
Alabama; WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997)
http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html. 

[4] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de 
personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee 
de Picardie, 1967). p.76
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