Find out how popular the last name Fergerson is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fergerson.

Fergerson, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Fergerson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fergerson in America

Fergerson is the 16624th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fergerson surname appeared 1,725 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fergerson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fergerson to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Fergerson

The surname Fergerson is of Scottish origin, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Fearghas," meaning "man of force" or "virile." The name is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Western Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1565, where a certain "Johne Fergusone" is mentioned. These rolls were important financial records maintained by the Scottish government, providing valuable insights into the presence of surnames during that period.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the Scottish Hearth Tax Rolls of 1691, which recorded households and their occupants for taxation purposes. This document references a "William Fergerson" residing in the parish of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

The Fergerson surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Robert Fergerson (1707-1774), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Aberdeen. Another was William Fergerson (1784-1842), a Scottish-born farmer and soldier who served in the War of 1812 and later settled in Upper Canada (now Ontario).

In the realm of literature, John Fergerson (1826-1896) was a Scottish poet and author, known for his works such as "The Hamesucken" and "The Braes o' Gleniffer." His contemporary, James Fergerson (1832-1907), was a Scottish-American journalist and editor who worked for various publications in New York City.

Another notable bearer of the Fergerson name was Mary Fergerson (1858-1932), a Scottish-born social reformer and suffragist who campaigned for women's rights and education in Australia. She was instrumental in establishing the Women's Christian Temperance Union in New South Wales.

The Fergerson surname has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Fergushill near Kilwinning, and Fergus Hill in Aberdeenshire. These locations may have played a role in the development and spread of the surname throughout the country.

While the Fergerson name originated in Scotland, it has since been carried by individuals across the globe, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural diversity of the Scottish diaspora. However, it remains rooted in its Scottish heritage and the rich history of the Gaelic language and customs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fergerson

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fergerson.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fergerson was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Fergerson has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Fergerson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fergerson, please contact us.

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