Article
Ferguson of Balquhidder
Gaelic: MacFhearghuis
Badge A bee on a thistle
Latin Motto: Dulcius ex aperis (Sweeter after difficulties)
Before the 18th century, at least five groups of Fergusons possessed lands and lived in the style of a clan under their respective chiefs in Argyll, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Galloway, and Carrick. Today, the Kilkerran Fergusons in Ayrshire and the family of Ferguson of Baledmund and the Fergusons of Balquhidder, both in Perthshire, are still owners of extensive lands.
Fergusons from both Galloway and Carrick alike claim descent from Fergus of Galloway. It was the 1st Earl of Carrick's signature that might suggest the origins of the Ferguson surname, Duncan, son of Gilbert, the son of Fergus, hence MacFhearguis.
It is known with certainty that by the 13th century there were men in widely separated districts of Scotland who called themselves "sons of Fergus". The dispersed Clan Ferguson has not blazed the battlefield with glories won by the sword. However, "Sons of Fergus" fought with Clan Bruce in the Scottish Civil War and the English Civil War. Some Perthshire Fergusons fought alongside James Graham, the 1st Marquess of Montrose in 1644. The oldest soldier in Prince Charles Edward's Army at the Battle of Prestonpans in the '45 was an 80-year-old.
Robert I of Scotland (1306-1329) granted certain lands in Ayrshire to Fergus MacFergus. In 1466 John Ferguson resigned a portion of his estate to Fergus Ferguson (of Kilkerran). The Baron of Kilkerran holds the undifferenced arms as Chief of the Name. In the 18th century the head of the Kilkerran family came gradually to be regarded as the chief of all the Fergus(s)ons. The present Chief is Sir Charles Ferguson of Kilkerran, 9th Baronet and lives in the ancestral home near Maybole, Ayrshire.
Choose from one of the Ferguson Of Balquhidder tartans listed below:
