English / Map Form: Fairlie
Gaelic Form: Fairlidh
Location: North Ayrshire
Post Town: FAIRLIE
County: Ayrshire
Local Authority: North Ayrshire
English / Map Form: Fairlie
Gaelic Form: Fairlidh
Language Notes
Element Meaning
Sources
| Farnelie, Fairnelie | 1572 RMS iv, 2065 |
| Fairlie | 1584 RMS v, 690 |
| Lady Fairnelie within the parochine of Lairgis | 1601 Fullarton |
| terras de Fairlie | 1601 RMS vi, 1222 |
| dominii de Ferlie | 1605 RMS vi, 1635 |
| terras de Fairlie | 1612 RMS vii, 618 |
| terris de Fairlie | 1633 RMS viii, 2209 |
| lands of Fairlie | 1653 RMS x, 136 |
| Fareley, Fairly | 1665 RMS xi, 774 |
| Fairly | 1747-55 Roy |
| Fairlie | 1820 Thomson |
The surname comes from this place (Cf. OPS, 90). There are two version of the Fairlie or Fairley family, one from the place in question and another in Braid in Edinburgh. The relationship between the two are not clear. It is often unclear in the old records which name relates to which version. Both surnames and the place-name appear in old records as Farnlie and the like. The forms above are only those for which the place in question is clearly signified. The forms below could also be related:
| William de Fairlie | 1335 Rect. Scot. Vol 1, p. 381 [From OPS ii, 91] |
| William Farley | 1368 Coll. AGAA, ii, p. 148 [From Black p. 252] |
| Allano de Farnley c. 1370 MacFarlane Gen. Coll, ii, 333 | |
| Wil of Farle of Coupir | 1444 RPS [1444/3] |
| John of Farnle | 1446 Irvine, I, p. 137 [From Black p. 252] |
Additional Information
This may be related in form to Cnoc Farralaidh, which Watson 1904, 98 proposes has a root of G far, ‘high’. Farley in Inverness-shire is Farlaidh (Diack 1924, 125) or Fàrlaidh (Robertson MS364, 5) Cf. Fairliecrevoch