Septs of Clan Farquharson
SEPTS AND AFFILIATED NAMES OF CLAN FARQUHARSON
WHAT IS A SEPT?
A sept is a family name that can be associated with a clan or a larger family for various reasons. Usually, this came about either through marriage or through a small family seeking protection from a larger, more powerful neighbor. Nowadays, this relationship is most often seen in the clan tartan that individual families are entitled to wear.
Over time, many septs have become clans in their own right, and in the political turmoil that Scotland has seen over the centuries, many others have come to be related to more than one clan.
Even if your name is not shown on the various clan maps, it is highly probable that it is related to one of the clans shown on them. If you find this clan, you will be able to see the area of Scotland your ancestors came from.
Scottish Clans, as we know them today, were beginning to be formalized in the early 14th century, under Robert the Bruce. Since his time, the number of clans has multiplied dramatically, and nearly all these later clans started out as Septs.
WHICH LAST NAMES ARE LINKED TO CLAN FARQUHARSON?
On July 2, 2026, Chief Philip Farquharson of Invercauld and Monaltrie formally confirmed and ratified the official list of recognized Septs of Clan Farquharson. These surnames reflect families with long-standing associations with the Clan through geography, service, kinship, and documented presence within our traditional territories.
The following surnames are officially recognized as Septs of Clan Farquharson. These surnames include their historical and regional spelling variations, which are not listed individually. Click here to see the list of variations.
Achenhove, Alford, Archer
Barr, Barrie, Berry, Birse, Bowman, Bremner, Brebner, Brown, Buckie, Bunzeon
Caig, Cay, Candvane, Carracher, Carnequhen, Cattanach, Chree, Christie, Clearch, Cloak, Clinter, Clune, Coates, Colston, Coutts, Cromar
Dagg, DeBarry, Dee, Don, Dorward, Dow, Downie
Ego, Erracher
Farquhar, Ferres, Finlayson, Findlay
Glennie, Gracie, Grassick
Hardie, Hogg
Kellas, Kellock, Kerracher
Leys, Lyon
MacCaig, MacCarly, Maccartney, MacErchar, MacFuktor, MacHardy, MacInley, MacKaig, MacKerracher, MacKinley, Mellis, Michie, Morgan
Patrickson, Patton, Patterson
Quaid
Reekie, Rioch, Rust
Skaid, Sleaster, Sleigh, Soutar, Strathdee, Sutter
Tawse, Testard, Tester, Tough
Waite, Wardle, Watt, Wood
You may download the official proclamation signed by the Chief on July 2, 2026 here.
The 1696 Poll Book for Aberdeenshire is a unique insight to the Kindrochit Parish (the modern Braemar area). It can be viewed here.
For those interested in the historical development of surnames, excerpts from George Black’s Surnames of Scotland are provided as additional background. These excerpts offer insight into the origins and evolution of a few of the recognised names.
Other spellings include: Farker, Forker, Farquhart
Other spellings include: Farkerson, Fulkerson
Other spellings include: Ferries, Ferris
Other spellings include: Finley, Findlay, Findley
Other spellings include: Finlaison, Finleyson, Findlayson, Findleyson
Other spellings include: Caig, Cage, Kague, Kaig, MacKague, MacKeag, MacKaig, MacKigg
Other spellings include: MacArtnay, MacArtney, MacCartnay, MacKartnay, MacKartney
Other spellings include: MacKercher, MacKeracher
Other spellings include: MacFarker, MacForker
Other spellings include: Ardson, MacArdy, MacCardy, MacCarty, MacHardy
Other spellings include: MacJockkie, MacYock
Other spellings include: MacKinley, MacKindlay, MacKindley, MacInlay, MacInley, MacInly, MacEnlay,
