Page:Alexander Macbain - An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language.djvu/468

400 Ewrn, G. Eoghann (Dial. Eoghainn), M. G. Eoyan, Eoghan, E. Ir., 0. Ir. Eoyan: *Avi-y<»w-s (*Avigenos, Stokes), "well born, good," from *avi, friendly, good, Skr. dvi (do.), Got. avi-liud, thanks, Lat. aveo, desire, possibly Gr. cv-, good (cf. here Evyevrjs, Eugenius), W. has Eu-tigirn, Eu-tut, 0. Br. Eu-cant, Eu-hocar, Gaul. Avi-cantus. Rhys ( I lib. Lect. 63) refers lr. Eoghan and W. Owen to *Esu-gen-, Gaul. Esugemis, sprung from the god Esus. Zimmer regards Owen as borrowed from Lat. Eugenius. Cf., however, the evo- of Ogmic Eva-cattos, now Eochaidh. Hence Mac-ewen.

Farquhar, G. Fearchar, M. G. Fearchar, Fearchair, Ir. Fearchair (F. M., year 848 a.d.): *Ver-caro-s, "super-dear one"; for fear, see Fergus, and for car see Diet, above. Hence M'Fhearchair, Mac-erchar, Farquhar son, J/' Farquhar.

Fergus, G. Fearghas, M. G. Fearghus, Fergus, E. Ir., 0. Ir. Fergus, g. Fergusso, W. Gurgust, 0. Br. Uuorgost, Uurgost : &ast;Ver-gustu-s, "super-choice"; for ver- or fear-, see in Diet, far, air (allied to Lat. super), and for gustus, see under Aonghus above. Some regard Fer here as G. fear, man, *viro- or *vtr.

Fingal, G. Fionn, Macpherson's Gaelic Fionnghal, which really should mean "Norseman," or Fair-foreigner, M. G. Fionn- ghall, a Norseman (M'V.), ri Fionn-gal, king of Man and the Isles (M'V.), Fingal (Manx Chrun.), king of Man and the Isles from 1070 to 1077 : from fionn and Gall, q.v. Fingal as the name of the Gaelic mythic hero is an invention of Macpherson's, as likewise is his Gaelic Fionnghal. As a matter of fact the name is a Gaelic form of the female name Flora ! See Fionnaghal in the addendum to this list.

Finlay, G. Fionnla, Fionnlagh (misspelt Fionnladh), M. G. Finlay (D. of L.), Finlaeic, gen. (1467 MS.), Fionnlaoich, gen. (Duan Albanach), E. Ir. Findlasch (Lib. Leinster), Finn- loech and Finlaeg, gen. (Marianus Scotus). Those early forms and the Norse Finnleihr prove that the name means "Fair hevo" (fionn and laock). It is a popular (10th and 11th century) rendering of Finnlug, "Fair attractive one," the older name. It has been explained as " Fair calf," which would suit the phonetics also. Hence Finlayson, Mackinlay (M'Fhionnlaigh).

Forbes, G. Foirbeis, Foirbeiseach, early document form De Forbes (thirteenth cent.), so named from the place-name Forbes in Aberdeenshire.

Fraser, G. Friseal, Frisealach, circ. 1298 the patriot's name is variously Simon Eraser, Frasel, Fresel, Frisel, in Domesday B. Fresle, Battle Abbey Rolls (1) Frisell or Fresell ; usually