English
Fergus
Fergus comes from Scottish Gaelic Fearghas, and goes back to Proto-Celtic *Wirogustus.
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*Wirogustusroot as named · steps between not traced
- Primitive Irishmodernᚃᚓᚏᚌᚑᚄᚑ
- Old Irishc. 600–900Fergus
- Scottish GaelicmodernFearghas
- EnglishtodayFergus
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Celticc. 1300–800 BCE*Wirogustusroot as named · steps between not traced
- Primitive Irishmodernᚃᚓᚏᚌᚑᚄᚑ
- Old Irishc. 600–900Fergus
- Scottish GaelicmodernFearghas
- EnglishtodayFergus
A compound of *wiros ‘man’ + *gustus ‘force’
Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- ‘to chase, pursue’
Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós ‘man’
Proto-Celtic *wiros ‘man’
Proto-Indo-European *ǵews- ‘to taste, try’
Proto-Indo-European *ǵéwstus ‘taste’
Proto-Celtic *gustus ‘force’
The story
The first element may be related to modern fìor (‘true’) or fear (‘man’). The second element has been understood to mean 'choice'. Thus the name means either "most chosen one" or "chosen man".
Every English word from Proto-Celtic *Wirogustus
Today it means
name A male given name from Scottish Gaelic.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Celtic *Wirogustus / Fergus