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

THE MEMORANDUM OR HISTORY.
I.— OF THE NAME IN GENERAL.
LL those who bear, or have borne, the rather fanciful
surname of Faarvedder, Fairvodder, Fawvether, Fair-
vadder, Fairwither, or Fairweather, and other similar spellings,
have evidently sprung from one root ; but where that root was
first planted; what gave rise to it; whether derived from some
shrinking semi-invalid, or from one who had an inordinate
craving for continual sunshine, or from an inveterate prog-
nostication of elemental changes, can only be made a matter
of conjecture, rather than of certainty ; it must, therefore re-
main a mystery among these of the name and connection.
(Note by the Editor. — The Author, I presume, obtained
these various spellings of the name from sixteenth or seven-
teenth century lists ; written at a date when the spelling of
both place and personal names was very loose and uncertain.
As I have already stated, the modern Etymologist refuses to
regard even the most obscure old names as either mysterious
or fanciful.)