Surname Fearus - Meaning and Origin
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Fearus: What does the surname Fearus mean?
The surname Fearus is most likely derived from the Old Norse personal name Fearir, meaning ‘traveller, stranger’. It is thought to have originated in the medieval Norse-Viking settlements in the Orkney Islands.
The Fearus family has historically lived in northern Scotland and Caithness, located on the northernmost coast of mainland Scotland. The name could have spread to other parts of Scotland through the movement of people during the 19th century and before.
The Fearus surname is still found in Scotland today. It could also be found in various British family histories, particularly due to the Viking invasion of the British Isles centuries ago. The surname may have also spread to other parts of the world as people migrated from Scotland to different countries.
The Fearus family is believed to have displayed a fierce loyalty to their homeland and an independent, pioneering spirit. Such traits may have been acquired from ancestors’ voyages of exploration and discovery, as well as from their ambitious families who sought a new life in foreign lands.
Thus, the Fearus last name is an indication of the tenacious and adventurous spirit of the family’s forefathers, as well as a reminder of the family’s search for new opportunities both near and far. Its history is an inspiring one, a testament to the strength and resilience of those who carried the Fearus name throughout time.
Order DNA origin analysisFearus: Where does the name Fearus come from?
Fearus is a surname of European origin, which is most common in various countries located around the Mediterranean Sea. It is generally found in countries such as Greece, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Armenia.
In Greece, Fearus is particularly associated with the island of Crete where it is an established surname. In Italy, Fearus is found in small pockets in the central and southern regions such as Rome, Latium, Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria.
In Romania, Fearus is found mainly in Dobruja, which was part of the former Ottoman Empire. Fearus is found in Albania, particularly in the cities of Tirana and Shkodra.
In the former Yugoslavian states of Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the surname is found mainly in rural areas in the southwest and south.
In Armenia, Fearus is a common surname, particularly in Yerevan and in the provinces of Zangezur and Syunik. It is also found in the neighboring Azerbaijani enclave of Karabakh.
Overall, Fearus is a moderately common surname found in multiple countries on or around the Mediterranean Sea. It may have originated in Greece where, to this day, it is most common.
Variations of the surname Fearus
The surname FEARUS is believed to have originating as a patronymic surname from the name of a father, and can be found in Ireland and England. It is also known to have variants and spellings such as FEARIS, FEARISS, FARIS, FARISS, FRYAR, and FARIS.
The surname FEARUS is believed to have originated from the Gaelic name O’Fearaigh, or MacFearaigh. In Irish, Mac Fearaigh translates to “son of FEARUS”. The surname FEARUS is generally believed to have roots in the Norman surname Ferrers, which first was introduced to England during the Norman conquest of 1066. This surname was derived from a name for a person who was a carrier of iron, ferrous, and was most likely Anglicanized to FEARUS after the Norman introduction.
The original spelling of the surname FEARUS varied depending on the local dialect, leading to the variations seen today. Intriguingly, there are records in both English and Irish that show that this surname was also used as a first name, for example Richard Ferrerius was documented in 1379 in the Poll Tax of Yorkshire.
Throughout the years, the FEARUS surname has been used in a number of compound compound surnames. Compound surnames usually included the names of two different families, such as Faris-Henderson and Faris-Payne. These compound surnames are commonly found in Ireland. Common variations of the surnames Faris, Fearis, and Fearuss include Faries, Fariss, and Farriss. These variants are still found in Ireland today.
Famous people with the name Fearus
- Jesse Fearus: American football player in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chris Fearus: Olympic swimmer who competed in the 2004 summer Olympics
- Elizabeth Fearus: playwright whose works have been featured at the Humana Festival of New American Plays
- Scott Fearus: professional basketball player in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Mel Fearus: musician associated with the goth rock and alternative metal genres
- John Fearus: film director whose films include The Butterfly Effect and Knowing
- Jessica Fearus: reality television star who originally gained fame for her time on Survivor: The Australian Outback
- Tom Fearus: actor who starred in the 2001 romantic comedy Along Came Polly
- Dan Fearus: Grammy Award winning rock musician
- Paul Fearus: Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist