Surname Phair - Meaning and Origin

Phair: What does the surname Phair mean?

The last name Phair is considered to be of Irish origin. It is believed to have derived from the old Gaelic name O'Fir, which later developed into O'Fearaigh in Irish and was anglicized to Ferris or Fear, and in some cases, Phair. The origin of the name is uncertain but it is commonly accepted that it means 'man of valor,' 'man of manliness,' or 'the best man,' indicating a person who was considered brave or heroic in their clan or tribe. Over time, as people migrated and languages evolved, this name morphed into various forms and spellings, Phair being one of them. Like many surnames, the exact significance or meaning might have been lost over the centuries, but it’s traditionally held to represent attributes of strength and courage.

Phair: Where does the name Phair come from?

The surname Phair is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "O' Fiaich." This name is commonly anglicized as Fee, Fay, or Phair. The Gaelic term "fiach" means raven, and the prefix "O" signifies grandson or descendant of. Therefore, the original O' Fiaich clan was considered descendants of the raven.

The Phair surname is prevalent in the provinces of Ulster and Leinster in Ireland. In England too, there are quite a few families with this surname, particularly in the region of Yorkshire. However, besides the British Isles, this last name has propagated in regions where people of Irish descent have migrated or were forced to migrate during the Great Famine between 1845 and 1852. This includes, but is not limited to, countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Therefore, today, one can find clusters of people with the Phair surname in those respective locations. Despite this dispersion, the surname Phair is not extensively common, and thus, one may not find it so readily in general international databases.

Variations of the surname Phair

The surname Phair has Scottish origins and several variations in spelling due to cultural changes over time. Some of these variations include Phare, Fare, Phaire, Phayre, and Phir.

Additionally, Phair could have been anglicised from the Gaelic surname Ó Fiaich, which means "descendant of Fiaich". It is also thought the name could be anglicised from the Gaelian surnames "Mac Phàidín" and "Mac Páidín", both meaning "son of little Patrick". This could suggest that the surname Phair might also be related to the surnames Paden, Paddon, Padin, and Patten.

Furthermore, the name Phair can sometimes be a variant of the surname Fair which is an English surname with several origins. It could come from the Old English term fæger meaning "fair or beautiful" or the Middle English term "faire", denoting someone who lived by a fair, a green or market place.

Therefore, considering the various linguistic and geographical influencing factors, there are a number of variations, related surnames, and different spellings associated with the surname Phair.

Famous people with the name Phair

• Liz Phair: Singer-songwriter and musician
• Ken Phair: Former American football player
• William Phair: Canadian actor
• Jack Phair: NCAA lacrosse coach
• Tre Phair: Professional bassist
• Lori Phair: American fitness instructor and personal trainer
• Jeffrey Phair: Radio and TV producer
• Kimberly Phair: Voice actress
• Peter Phair: English comedian
• Dan Phair: Deputy head of the British Armed Forces
• Margaret Phair: British zoologist
• G. W. Phair: Canadian politician
• Craig Phair: American financial adviser and author
• Chris Phair: Actor and producer
• Richard E. Phair: Former chairman of the United Nations Environment Programme
• Izaiah Phair: American musician
• Matthew G. Phair: Colonel in the United States Air Force
• William Phair: British Army officer
• Shane Phair: Professional boxer
• Jessica Phair: Fictional character in the hit TV show, “Grey’s Anatomy”

Other surnames

Phaires