Fergusson is a name that has been found in different districts of Scotland almost as long as the name has been alive although the origin of the clan is generally considered to be in Ross-shire. The various Fergussons have found their fortunes in different forms although they often have very different progenitors depending upon their region of origin. The Fergussons of Argyllshire and Ayrshire, for example, claim descent from two different royal families.The Argyllshire Fergussons trace their origins to Fergus Mor mac Erc, a king of the Scots of Dalriada, their connection has been immortalised on their family shield in the form of a boar's head. The Ayrshire Fergussons trace their line back to Fergus, Prince of Galloway who lived during the reign of David I. We can appreciate that such a descriptive term would have been applied to someone at some time in almost every village.

The Fergussons of Argyllshire claim to be the descendants of Fergus Mór mac Erc, a Scots king from the times of Dalriada, and represent the connection with the boars head on their shield. Also making a connection with the early Scots from Ireland are the Fergussons of Dumfries and Ayrshire, such as the Earls of Carrick. The famous Fergusson Earls of Carrick are descended from this line. There are numerous notable Fergussons from various branches of the family. Another Fergusson general was Sir Ronald Fergusson of Raith who won the praise of the Duke of Wellington for his performance during the Peninsular Wars. A portrait was commissioned depicting himself and his brother who served in the Royal Company of Archers, the traditional bodyguards of Scottish monarchs. Ronald's descendants included the Viscount of Novar who represented Leith in Parliament from 1886 to 1914, and also went on to became Governor General of Australia. Of the Fergussons of Pitfour, one became Lord Pitfour as well as becoming a High Court judge in 1765. His son Patrick, a Lieutenant Colonel in the army, was responsible for the breach loading rifle which was patented in 1776. The Highland and Lowland Fergussons are still represented by a single chief on the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. They have records to link their descent to Fergus, Prince of Galloway who was founder of Dundrennan Abbey before he died in 1161.

The Kilkerran Fergussons are reckoned to have possessed their area since the 12th century. The first written record available however, is regarding John Fergusson of Kilkerran in 1464. Carrick had a great number of Fergussons by the 1600s, for whom Kilkerran was their chief.

The Atholl Fergussons were patriots, following the fated through his incredible military accomplishments in the Civil War, and again in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745 they fought with their Strathhardle namesakes against the Hanovarians.

It was the 1st Earl of Carrick's signature that might suggest the origins of the Fergusson surname, Duncan, son of Gilbert, the son of Fergus, hence MacFhearguis. The Gaelic spelling has been corrupted through tranlation into the forms, MacFergus, MacFerries, and MacFerris. Since the "f" and "g" are silent in the old language such variations as MacErries, MacHerries, MacKerras (especially common in Argyll and Australia) and even MacIrish were formed.

The Anglicised "Fergusson" was widely used by the reign of James IV. The shortened form of the name with the single "s" was initiated by record clerks before the 1600's. The common spelling of the day was "Fergussoun" and by the reign of Charles II, "Fergussone." In the modern era the Ayrshire, Dumfries, Argyll, and Perthshire families have retained the double "s" while those of Fife, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Ireland have the single "Ferguson."

We know with certainty that by the 13th century there were men in widely separated districts of Scotland which called themselves "sons of Fergus." It is recorded in the "Annals of Ulster" there was in 1216 a day of disaster to the "Clan Fergusa" at the hand of the Mormaer of Lennox's son. Through the passing of the ages however the particulars of the story have been lost.

In one of the oldest documents of Scottish history, the Irish "Tract of the Men of Albyn" ours is the only modern clan listed. Two offshoots of "Clan Fergusa" from the Royal Race are mentioned.It is thought that from these offshoots comes the possible origin of regional separations of Fergusson. Thus lending explaination as to why the Aberdeenshire, Atholl and Ayreshire clans are under the arms of the boars head and the Dumfries and Galloway Fergussons are found with the lion rampant arms.

Robert Bruce granted certain lands in Ayrshire to Fergus MacFergus, and in 1466 John Fergusson resigned a portion of his estate to Fergus Fergusson (of Kilkerran), his son, and Janet Kennedy, his wife. From this line stems Sir Charles Fergusson, 9th Baronet, and Baron of Kilkerran who holds the undifferenced arms as Chief of the Name. By the reign of James VI, the localities occupied by the various clans were fairly well defined. Members of the same clan probably wore a sett produced within their community produced by the local weaver. The distinctive sett of the chief and his family became regarded as the "Clan Tartan".

In contrast to the list of noble Fergusson soldiers all through British military history, Robert Fergusson, an Aberdeen bank clerk’s son, who was born in 1750, died on the straw floor of an Edinburgh asylum aged twenty three, and was buried in an unmarked grave.

When Robert Burns

came to Edinburgh, he found Fergusson’s grave, dug out his head and held it in an embrace, for in his few years Fergusson had composed a body of poetry which Burns held as his aspirational model.

Burns was granted permission to erect a monument to the young Scots genius.