Memorandum regarding the Fairweathers of Menmuir Parish, Forfarshire, and others of the surname

8
Philologists regard all old names as essentially descriptive,
usually conveying definite matter of fact meaning the very op-
posite of fanciful ; it is, therefore, necessary in order to reach
the true signification of a seemingly fanciful name, to get
beneath and beyond all glosses, spoken or written.
The first point certain about Fairweather is, that it is
Anglic, as apart from Celtic ; not merely of course, English
as distinguished from Scottish; because it is common to both
countries. Its chief and perhaps original centre was Danish
East Anglia, especially Norfolk and Suffolk ; yet, at the same
time it has so long been common in East Scotland, as to
have acquired a distinct Scottish association.
Now, the great mass of modern English surnames are de-
rived from three sources, namely :
First : — Places of Eesidence.
Second : — Nicknames or Personal Peculiarities.
Third : — Occupations or Condition in Life.
The name of Fairweather does not apparently come under
the first category ; because, the only locality in the British
Islands from which it could have come is Fairweather Green,
near Bradford, Yorkshire ; but that obscure place, (which