FERRIS members around the world

FERRIS Family History

This is an Anglicization of the Old Gaelic name O' Fearghusa - a compound of the Gaelic "O" (meaning "grandson" or "male descendant") and the personal name Fergus, composed of the elements "fear" - a man and "gus" - vigour or force. The name is also Anglicized as (O) Fergus, Farrissy and Farris. Ferris and Farris are widespread names in North-East Ulster where Fairy and O' Ferry have been used as synonyms of it. They are thought to have come from an Old Donegal sept - O' Fearadhaigh. Ferris and Farris are also well known in Kerry. Here they are believed to be the cognomen of a branch of the O' Moriartys - a sept intimately associated with County Kerry...