Most species of fir are found in the mountainous regions of Western North America, Europe, Northern Africa, parts of Asia, Himalayan Mountains, Canada.

The name comes from the Latin word abeo which means "to rise" or "arising" referring to the height of the trees. "Fir" probably comes from the Old English words furh or fyrh and the Danish word for fire, fyrr.

Fir trees are monoecious which means that have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Most of these plants are pyramidal in form and are fairly slow growing. Many of them do not tolerate hot, dry weather well.