Surname MacFerren - Meaning and Origin

MacFerren: What does the surname MacFerren mean?

The last name MacFerren is a Scottish surname that originated in the early Middle Ages. The name is a patronymic, derived from the given name macFergus, which translates to “son of Fergus.” The given name Fergus, in turn, is derived from the Celtic term for “strong man.” It is of note that the name MacFerren contains two of the oldest elements in Gaelic: “Mac,” meaning “son of”; and “Fergus,” a warrior’s name from the pre-9th century kingdom of Scotland.

The MacFerren family is believed to have descended directly from the Scottish branch of the royal house of Alpin, an ancient Pictish dynasty, which was supplanted by the House of Balliol in the 12th century. The family is thought to have descended from Eochaid, an 8th century Pictish King. Though the family originated in Scotland, during the 16th century many of them migrated to Ireland due to the religious disagreements located there.

The MacFerrens were well known for their support of the Gaelic language and culture. The family were very loyal supporters of the Stuart monarchs, who were attacked for their refusal to abandon Roman Catholicism. During this time many MacFerrens took part in the Jacobite Rebellion, which sought to restore the Stuart monarchy.

The name is still prevalent today, both in Scotland and in the Irish Republic. It is likely to be changed to its present form in the 18th and 19th centuries, and can also sometimes be found as McKerran or MacFerrin.

MacFerren: Where does the name MacFerren come from?

The name MacFerren is believed to be of Scottish origin, with the earliest recorded spelling being Magfarlane, although the original source is somewhat unclear.

In Scotland, the name MacFerren is still popular throughout the Highlands, particularly in the towns of Oban, Fort William, Inverness and other smaller settlements. In addition to this, the name is also found in the eastern seaboard of Canada, in particular the towns of Vancouver, Victoria and Halifax, which likely have a strong Scottish influence.

Today, many other countries, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, have a sizable population of people with the surname. Given the amount of migration over the years, it is likely that the name MacFerren is more widespread than ever before.

In addition to these locations, MacFerren is also found in various English-speaking regions across the globe. It is believed that this is primarily due to the Scottish roots of the surname but it is hard to tell the exact influences that have caused its prevalence.

Ultimately, the name MacFerren is still popular today, with people of the various subsidiaries of this surname living all over the world.

Variations of the surname MacFerren

The surname MacFerren has a wide variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Common variations of this surname are McCarron, MacFerrin, MacCorran, McFerrin, McPharren, MacFearin, MacPherrin, MacFarlane, MacFarlane, MacFarlane, and MacFarlane.

It is possible that the MacFerren surname originated in Ireland and Scotland, both of which have seen an influx of immigration in recent years. There is evidence of the name occurring in both countries sporadically throughout history; in 1536 in Scotland it appears in the record as M’Gorran.

The MacFerren surname, especially in an Irish context, typically comes from the Gaelic ‘Mac Fhirín’ meaning ‘son of the small man’. The Scottish version of the name comes from the Gaelic ‘Mac Fhearghain’ meaning ‘son of the wanderer’ and is likely derived from the early Gaelic ‘Fearon’.

The variants of the MacFerren surname are numerous; some of the most common include MacCarron, MacFerrin, MacCorran, McFerrin, McPharren, MacFearin, MacPherrin, MacFarlane, MacFarlane, MacFarlane, MacFarlane and MacFarlane.

In addition, there are other surnames with ancestral roots to the MacFerren surname. These include Carron, McCorrann, MacGearrann, MacGorann, MacGeran, NcGeary, and McGreon. Each of these names are derivative of the MacFerren surname and can often be found in records of families whose descent can be traced back to the surname.

Famous people with the name MacFerren

• Robert MacFerrin: American operatic baritone and teacher
• Stephen MacFerrin: American opera singer
• Christine MacFerrin: American actress
• John MacFerrin: Scottish actor
• Chris MacFerrin: British composer and lyricist
• James MacFerrin: American actor
• Matt MacFerrin: American actor
• Corey MacFerrin: Actor and comedian
• Joe MacFerrin: American Singer-Songwriter
• Alasdair MacFerrin: Scottish musician

Other surnames

MacFerrin