Gaelic Fearchar, Middle Gaelic. Fearchar and Fearchair, from OG. Ver-car-os, 'very dear one,' Modern Gaelic is often erroneously written Fearachar, and in medisaeval records appears in many corrupt forms. Ferchart was the father of Fergus, one of the perambulators of boundaries in a Newbattle charter a. 1178 (Neuhotle,, 156). Farhard, judex de Buchan, witnessed a charter by William Cumyn, earl of Buchan a. 1200 (REA., I, p. 15), and about the same date Malmur mac Hercar, a native or serf, was gifted to the Abbey of Scone (Scon, p. 25). Ferkar was earl of Ross, 1224—31 (REM., p. 334), and Macbeth filius Ferchware is in record. 1283 (LIM., 30). Fercardus filius Seth witnessed a composition between Andrew, bishop of Moray, and Walter Cumyn, earl of Mynynteth, 1234, and in another charter of same date he is Fercardus senescallus de Badenoch (REM., p. 99), Pherharchd, judex, who witnessed perambulation of boundaries of lands of Abbey of Arbroath and those of the countess of Buchan, 1251 (RAA., I, p. 162), is probably Ferhare, judex, witness to charter of lands of Ederlarg, about same date (LAC,, p. 62). Fercard, late dean of Caithness, was directed to receive the temporalities of the bishopric of Caithness, 1306 (Bain, II, p. 472). The Farquhars of Gilmilnscroft, Kyle Stewart, were seated there at the end of the fourteenth century. Andro Farchare was burgess of Arne, 1450 (Ayr, p. 27), and a man named Farthquhaie was tacksman of Warbuster in parish of St. Ola, 1492 (REO., p. 405). Schir Mathow Farcar, cleric, in Kirkwall, 1514, appears in 1527 as Schir Mathow Fariiuhar (OSR., I, p. 108,256). Andrew Ferqunar was burgess of Montrose, 1526 (RSS., I, 3608), another Andro Pharquhair was witness in Kirkwall, 1543 (REO., p. 224), and Johannes Ferchar was tenant in Strathdee, 1527 (Grant, III, p. 68). Thomas Forquhair in Cairdie, 1625 (OSS., I, 98). Fairhar 1586, Farair 1550, Ferchar 1596, Ferghard and Ferquard 1686, Ferquhar 1633, Feruware c. 1240. Other old forms: Ferer, Farahar, Faryar. With 'Mac' it gives Macerchab. The name of the earl of Stathern who died in 1171 is spelled Ferteth in three charters by Malcolm IV (Scon, p. 8; RD., p. 22, 24). It is Ferthet and Fercheth in two charters between 1160—61, and Ferteth in a third c. 1170—71 (RPSA., p. 129,132, 144). It is also said to occur as Ferrett, Fercherd, Fereth, Ferthet, and Forthead (Cupar-Angus, I, p. 319). In Wyntoun's MS. it is spelled Feretauche and Ferthach (S. T. S. ed., IV, p. 422—423). Ferthed, son of Earl Gilbert of Strathern also appears as witness in his father's charters, c. 1199—1208, as Ferthet Ferthead, Ferthet, fferthet, fferteth, Ferteth, and Fertet (Inchaffray, p. 3, 4, 8, II, 13, 16, 17, 18, 24). See also Fahquharson and Macfarquhar.

(Celtic) Beloved Man [Gaelic Fearchar—fear, man + the aspirated form of car, dear, beloved] Cp. Fargher

Mac Fearchair (W) A Scottish name in Co.

Down, sometimes written Forker. IF 24*. SIF 30

(Scottish) The son of Farquhar (friendly).

A common Scottish surname-the same as the Irish Ferchard, an aucient personal name in both countries. The London Farquhars spring from Aberdeenshire.

An honest man; from fear, a man, and coir, honest.

(Gaelic.) From Fear, a man, and coir, just, honest, good, or car, friendly; Fearciar, from Fear and ciar, dark—gray—a dark—gray man.

Contracted from Mac Fearghoir, ‘Fearghoir's Son.' This name Fearghoir, which occurs in the Tale of Diarmid and Grainne, is derived from the root ferg, 'brave' or 'violent.' ‘Fearchair, son of Muireadhach, Abbot of Lannleire . . .

died A.D. 848.'