Scottish Family Names E-F
ELIOTT
NAME ON MAP: ELWALD OLD COUNTY: Roxburgh DATE: 1357 MEANING: the early name of the clan, Elwald, probably ANGLO‑SAXON `elf wood', is recorded just south of the Scottish border in 1357. The first chief was Robert Elwald of Redheugh in Liddersdale who died in 1497. Like the Armstrongs, to whom they were closely linked, the early Eliotts were active on both sides of the border. Most ENGLISH Elliots, by the way, derive their name from the diminutive of Elias, the GREEK form of HEBREW Elijah `Yahweh is God'.
ERSKINE
NAME ON MAP: see under place‑names. HISTORY: Henry de Erskyn is recorded as a witness in 1225. The name appears as Irskyne, Ireskin and Irskyn before 1300 when the family supported Robert the Bruce.
FARQUHARSON
NAME ON MAP: CLAN CHATTAN OLD COUNTY: Perth MEANING: descended from the Clan Mackintosh, the clan takes its name from Farquhar, 4th son of Alexander Ciar, or Shaw, of Rothiemurchus in Strathspey around 1500 after the date of this map. The clan territory is that covered by the name Chattan on the map. See the entry for Clan Chattan.
FERGUSSON
NAME ON MAP: MacFHEARGHUIS (in GAELIC ) OLD COUNTY: Ayr MEANING: from GOIDELIC fearghas `first choice'. Traditionally the Fergussons descend from Fergus, son of Erc, who with his two brothers came to Scotland from Dalriada (Ulster) in the 6th century AD, bringing with him the Stone of Scone, which later became the Scottish Coronation Stone. It is quite possible that this tradition is correct, but there are several families and it is unlikely that they are all related. The Anglicized name appeared as Fergousone in 1501.
FLETCHER
NAME ON MAP: Mac an FHLEISTEIR (in GAELIC ) OLD COUNTY: Perth MEANING: `son of a fletcher': from NORMAN‑FRENCH flechier, a craftsman who made flights for arrows. Fletcher tradition records that they were `the first to raise smoke and boil water in Glen Orchy'; the Fletchers of Glen Lyon were arrow‑makers to the MacGregors.
FORBES
NAME ON MAP: FORBES OLD COUNTY: Aberdeen DATE: 1300 MEANING: from the place‑name in Aberdeenshire, derived from GOIDELIC forba `field, district' with either BRYTHONIC ais `place' or simply MIDDLE ENGLISH plural ‑s. John de Forbes held the lands in the early 13th century; his son or grandson Alexander fell defending Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness against the forces of Edward I.
FRASER
NAME ON MAP: FRESER OLD COUNTY: Inverness, Peebles DATE: 1210 MEANING: the spellings de Frisselle, de Freseliere and de Fresel are recorded in Scotland in the 12th century; the name probably came from the Frezel family in Anjou, France and may have meant `ash‑tree'. The story that Jules de Berry was renamed Fraiseur by Charles the Simple after serving his king delicious strawberries (fraise) is just a legend, but is perpetuated in the strawberry leaves in the family crest. Sir Simon Frysel of Oliver Castle fought with Wallace against Edward I and was hung, drawn and quartered by the English. Although some Frasers had settled in the Highlands in the 13th century, the Fraser of Lovat lands around Loch Ness came by marriages of descendants of Simon Fraser, who fought at Bannockburn and was killed at Halidon Hill in 1333, to heiresses to the Bisset estates. The lands around Fraserburgh came into the main Fraser family by marriage in 1375.