MACFARLANE
Recorded variant spellings include Mac Farlane, Macfarlane
MacFarlane is a Scottish surname of Celtic and Gaelic origin, traditionally linked to the Christian heritage of the Scottish Isles. The name is derived from the Gaelic patronymic Mac Pharlain, meaning “son of Parlan”. Parlan itself is a diminutive of the ancient Celtic personal name Partholon, confirming the name’s deep roots in pre‑modern Scotland.
Historical records confirm that the surname first appears in the 14th century in Scotland. One of the earliest documented bearers is Malcolm McPharlane, who was a charter witness to the Earl of Leven in 1385, during the reign of King Robert XI. In 1577, Andrew McFarlane was elected a Burgess of Glasgow, demonstrating the name’s established presence in Scottish civic life.
Over the centuries the spelling of the name has evolved. Variants such as MacFarlan, McFarlan, MacFarland, McFarlin and McParland are all recorded in church registers and legal documents. The evolution of the surname can be seen in early forms like Makfarlande (1546), M'Farlen (1603) and MacPharline (1610).
Geographically the MacFarlane clan was historically associated with Argyll and the surrounding Highlands, Borders and Fife. The clan’s influence was significant in Scottish history, and its members served as seafaring merchants and warriors, a role reflected in the clan’s motto, “Per mare, per terras” or “By sea, by land”. The name is also found in Ireland, where it appears in historic records, showing early migration across the Irish Sea.
Since the early modern period, people bearing the surname have moved beyond the British Isles. High numbers of modern bearers are found in English‑speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, largely through emigration during the 18th and 19th centuries. In North America, concentrations are greatest along the eastern seaboard, with notable communities in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Massachusetts, while in Canada major communities exist in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
Genetic studies of present‑day bearers of the surname trace them to a distinct sub‑clan of the broader Clan Siol Alpin, a line that originated in the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde. This genetic signature illustrates the enduring linkage between the surname and the traditional Highland families for whom the MacFarlane name is a lasting legacy.
Typical given names associated with the MacFarlane surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Peter
- Robert
- Stuart
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Jane
- Jean
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname MacFarlane in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname MacFarlane are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Chip Cookie.
There are approximately 9,227 people named MacFarlane in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,025th most common surname in Britain. Around 142 in a million people in Britain are named MacFarlane.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named MacFarlane
- Seth MacFarlane - American animator, actor, singer and television producer
- Robert Macfarlane - Travel writer
- Norman Macfarlane, Baron Macfarlane of Bearsden - Businessman and peer
- Neil Macfarlane - Politician
- Neil MacFarlane - Scottish football player
- Ian MacFarlane - Scottish football player (1933 to 2019)
- Murdo Macfarlane - Writer (1901 to 1982)
- Helen Macfarlane - Scottish Chartist Journalist and Marxist (1818 to 1860)
- Duncan Alwyn Macfarlane - (1857 to 1941)
- Ian MacFarlane - Scottish football player who played for Hamilton, Dumbarton and Clydebank
- Robert Gwyn Macfarlane - Haematologist (1907 to 1987)
- Malcolm MacFarlane - Musician and poet (1853 to 1931)
- Willie Macfarlane - Golfer (1890 to 1961)
- John Menzies Macfarlane - Scottish Latter-day Saint hymnwriter, choir director and civic leader (1833 to 1892)
- Dave MacFarlane - Scottish football player (1967 to 2013)
- John MacFarlane - (1829 to 1894)
- James Macfarlane - Australian politician (1844 to 1914)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.