MCFARLANE
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Farlane, Mcfarlane
McFarlane is a surname of ancient origin recognised across the British Isles, particularly within the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland and in some Irish locales. The name derives, in its earliest form, from the Gaelic Mac Pharlain, a patronymic indicating son of Parlan.
Parlan is a diminutive of the Gaelic Parthalán, itself believed to have a linguistic connection to the Old Irish word part meaning a plow. In this sense the name may have originally identified a descendant of an individual associated with agricultural work or land stewardship.
Variations of the surname recorded through the centuries include MacFarlane, McFarlane, MacFarlan, McFarlan, MacFarland, MacFarlin, McParland and McParlin. The earliest documentation of the MacPharlain lineage appears in Scottish charters of the 14th century. A notable early bearer is Malcolm McPharlane, who appears as a charter witness in the year 1385 during the reign of King Robert eleven of Scotland.
During the 16th century the surname appears in municipal records. Andrew McFarlane was elected a Burgess of Glasgow in 1577, marking the first documented occurrence of the spelling McFarlane in a civic context. Subsequent spellings observed in parish registers include Makfarlande (1546), M'Farlen (1603) and MacPharline (1610).
One of the earliest personal records retained is that of Dugall McFarlane, who entered into matrimony with Helena Wallace at Cannongate, Edinburgh on 15 June 1653. Another key entry is Alexander McFarlan, born on 3 September 1730, also in Edinburgh. These instances illustrate the endurance of the surname within ecclesiastical and civil documents over several centuries.
While the predominant interpretation of the name is patronymic, relating to a progenitor named Parlan, there exist alternative hypotheses. Some scholars suggest a pre‑7th century Viking influence, proposing a derivation meaning Sea‑Wave, and yet others trace the name back to the 12th‑century return of Crusaders, linking it to the name Bartholmew. These proposals remain unverified, and contemporary scholarship largely adheres to the Gaelic etymology outlined earlier.
In the Scottish Highlands, particularly within areas such as Argyll and Bute, the McFarlane surname continues to be associated with local heritage. Its historical presence in both Scotland and Ireland reflects the broader patterns of migration and cultural exchange that have shaped the genealogy of the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the McFarlane surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Angela
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Jean
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- MacFarlane
- Macfarlan
- Macfarland
- Macfarlaine
- Macfarlain
- Mcfarlan
- Macfalane
- Macfarlam
- Macfarlen
- Macfarlene
- Macfarlin
- Macfarline
- Macfarlne
- Mackfarlane
- Mcfariane
- Mcfarlain
- Mcfarlaine
- Mcfarland
- Mcfarlen
- Mcfarley
- Mcfarlin
- Mcfarline
- Mcfarling
- Mcfarnell
- Mcferran
- Mcparlan
- Mcparlane
- Mcpharland
- Mcpharlane
- Mcpharlin
- McParland
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McFarlane in...
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There are approximately 14,833 people named McFarlane in the UK. That makes it the 597th most common surname in Britain. Around 228 in a million people in Britain are named McFarlane.
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 McFarlane
- Colin McFarlane - Actor
- K. B. McFarlane - Historian (1903 to 1966)
- John McFarlane - Businessman
- Mike McFarlane - Sprinter
- Jan McFarlane - Bishop-designate of Repton; Archdeacon of Norwich; British Anglican priest
- James McFarlane - Scholar of European literature (1920 to 1999)
- Charles McFarlane - Politician (1895 to 1958)
- Jean McFarlane, Baroness McFarlane of Llandaff - Nurse, writer and life peer (1926 to 2012)
- John McFarlane - Scottish football player
- Willie McFarlane - Scottish football player (1923 to 1998)
- Bobby McFarlane - Scottish football player (1897 to 1971)
- Andy McFarlane - Football player
- David McFarlane - Scottish football player
- Ross McFarlane - Scottish professional football player
- Ross McFarlane - Golfer
- Alasdhair McFarlane -
- Paddy McFarlane - New Zealand association football player (1932 to 2013)
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.