FERGUSHILL: From the lands of this name in the parish of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. The surname is now in all probability extinct. The first record of the name is in 1417 when Robert Fergoushill de eodem was one of a jury at Irvine (Irvine, I, p. 20). He may be the Robert of Fergushill who witnessed an instrument of sasine in 1420 (Laing, 97), appears as burgess of Edinburgh in 1423 (Egidii, p. 45), and was appointed legal procurator of Kelso Abbey at the courts of Edinburgh and elsewhere in 1435 (Kelso, 528). Walter de Fergushyll witnessed the perambulation of the bounds of Prestwick in 1446 (Prestwick, p. 116). The names of George, Robert, and William Foigussillis in Kilbryid are included in an act of deprivation of non-resident burgesses of Irvine in 1595 (Irvine, II, p. 38). In the same year a sum of twenty shillings was granted by the town of Aberdeen for the support of Robert Fergushill "burgeis of Irwing pilleit and herreit be the Ireland men" (CRA., p. 110). William Fergushill was bailie of the burgh of Prestwick in 1601 (Prestwick, p. 85), and Robert Fergushill was retoured heir of Robert Fergushill de eodem in the 7 merks 8 shiliings and 8 pence lands of old extent of Fergushill in the lordship of Eglintoun in 1625 (Retours, Ayr, 236). The lands were alienated c. 1660. Pont mentions "Fergushill de eodem chieffe of hes name" (p. 15), and the Rev. Robert Wodrow wrote the life of the Rev. John Fergushill (1592—1644), minister of Ochiltree. Fergisell 1744, Ferguschill 1542, Forgushil 1547, Fergushill 1685.