Forgan

This name is of Scottish locational origin from the village of Forgan in the parish of Forgandenny, Fife. Originally spelt Forgrund, the name derives from the Olde English pre 7th century 'for' a pig, plus 'grund', ground. Hence 'land on which pigs were bred or reared'. The surname from this source is first recorded towards the middle of the 12th century (see below). One Archembaldus de Forgrund was a charter witness in Fife c.1170 'Calendar Book of the Priory of St. Andrew'. The name was well recorded in the parishes of Carnbee, Cameron and Kilconquhar. An interesting name bearer was James Berwick Forgan (1852-1924), born in St. Andrews. He became president of the First National Bank of Chicago and a leading authority in the American financial world. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de Fforgrund, Burgess of Berwick. which was dated c. 1147 The Abbey Register of Kelso. during the reign of David I of Scotland 1124-1153. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.