Explore the Family Name Ferguson
The meaning of Ferguson
Scottish and Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Fergus ‘son of Fearghus’ (see Fergus) by substituting -son for mac-.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ferguson in the United States?
The surname Ferguson, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, saw a slight shift in its popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 173rd in terms of prevalence but dropped to the 188th spot in 2010, marking a change of -8.67%. Despite this lesser ranking, the total count of individuals bearing the Ferguson surname actually increased from 142,256 in 2000 to 146,426 in 2010, an upturn of 2.93%. However, the proportion of Fergusons per 100,000 people declined by 5.86%, moving from 52.73 to 49.64.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #173 | #188 | -8.67% |
| Count | 142,256 | 146,426 | 2.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 52.73 | 49.64 | -5.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ferguson
When we delve into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Ferguson, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data, some changes were observed between 2000 and 2010. The largest increase was seen within the Hispanic community, which rose by 47.95%, followed by Asian/Pacific Islanders at 36.36% and those identifying with two or more races at 34.34%. The proportion of Fergusons identifying as White decreased slightly by 3.49%. However, white still remains the predominant ethnic identity for this surname. The percentage of Fergusons who identify as Black also experienced growth, increasing by 6.32%. Lastly, there was a minimal rise of 3.33% among American Indian and Alaskan Natives. It's important to note that some data may have been suppressed for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.54% | 74.83% | -3.49% |
| Black | 18.05% | 19.19% | 6.32% |
| Hispanic | 1.71% | 2.53% | 47.95% |
| Two or More Races | 1.66% | 2.23% | 34.34% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.6% | 0.62% | 3.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.44% | 0.6% | 36.36% |
Ferguson ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Ferguson is British & Irish, which comprises 54.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.3%) and Eastern European (3.6%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 54.9% |
| French & German | 21.3% |
| Eastern European | 3.6% |
| Other | 20.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Ferguson
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Ferguson have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 87.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 87.60% |
What Ferguson haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Ferguson is I-Y4752, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup I-Y4752 is descended from haplogroup I-M170. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Henry, Thompson, Thomas, Patterson, Evans, Wilson, Jones, Lewis, Taylor, Owens.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Ferguson surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins I-M170Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Ferguson have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Ferguson" Surname 42.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Ferguson" Surname 29.1%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Ferguson" Surname 21.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Ferguson" Surname 17.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Ferguson?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Ferguson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition