Surname MacFerrin - Meaning and Origin

MacFerrin: What does the surname MacFerrin mean?

The surname MacFerrin is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic for 'son of Ferrin'. It is believed to have been first established in Argyll, in the West of Scotland. The earliest records of the name date back to the 10th century, and were derived from the given name Fearchar or Fergus, which was used as a personal name, but also evolved over time to become the surname MacFerrin.

The MacFerrin name has been associated with a variety of clans over the centuries, including the Clan MacLaren, the Clan MacGillivray and the Clan MacMillan, among others. One of the earliest recorded persons to bear the surname was a merchant from Edinburgh by the name of MacFerrin who traveled to India in 1687, and his descendants still bear the name today.

The name MacFerrin is closely associated with the places of Tiree and Coll in the Inner Hebridean Islands, and it remains popular to this day. It is also fairly common in North America, particularly in Canada. The name is often found today as McFarren or McFerrin due to spelling variations over the years, and it is typically associated with strong loyalty, integrity and honesty.

MacFerrin: Where does the name MacFerrin come from?

The last name MacFerrin is most commonly associated with Scotland and Ireland, but it has branched out to other parts of the world over the years.

In Scotland, MacFerrin is found primarily in Argyll and the Western Isles. There were once MacFerrins in Perthshire, but they do not appear in the records after 1845. The majority of the surname in Scotland is found in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

In Ireland, MacFerrin is most commonly associated with county Cork but is also found in Galway, Tipperary and Antrim. Some Irish-Americans descended from MacFerrin emigrants can also be found in the United States.

The surname is also found in some parts of Australia, particularly Victoria and New South Wales. These MacFerrins are usually descended from Irish immigrants from the 19th century, or more recent migrants from Scotland or Ireland.

MacFerrin is also connected with diaspora communities in various countries in Canada. Those with the surname are likely descended from Scottish Highlanders who first moved to Canada after the Highland Clearances of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The last name MacFerrin can thus be found today in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada, and other parts of the world that have received immigrants from these countries.

Variations of the surname MacFerrin

The surname MacFerrin is of Irish origin and has several variants in spelling and different surnames. MacFerrin is derived from the Irish patronymic Mac Fhearadhain, meaning “son of Fergus”. The variants of this surname include MacFerrin, MacFarlane, MacFerran, McFerran, McFarlan, Ferran, and Ferrin.

The name MacFerrin is the most commonly found variant of this name in Ireland. It is an Anglicized spelling, since the Gaelic original spelling of the name is Mac Fhearadhaín or MacFhearain. The spelling of this surname has changed over time, but the pronunciation has remained the same.

The other variants of the name include MacFarlane, MacFerran, McFerran, McFarlan, Ferran, and Ferrin. The surname MacFarlane is derived from a branch of the MacFerrin family, and the spelling has evolved over time. It is still found in Ireland and other Irish communities abroad. The variant MacFerran is also found in Irish communities. It is derived from the Old Irish form Mac Fearghail, meaning “son of Fearghail”.

McFerran is an Anglicized form of the old Gaelic Mac Fearghail and McFarlan is derived from MacFarlane. The variant Ferran is an Anglicized form of the original Old Irish spelling Mac Fearghail, and the surname Ferrin is an Anglicized spelling of Ferran.

All of these variants of the surname MacFerrin are rooted in the same Gaelic patronymic, and ultimately share the same origin. Because of this, they can all be considered members of the same MacFerrin family. While the spelling is different, all of the families are linked by the same surname.

Famous people with the name MacFerrin

• Ryan MacFerrin: an American actor, writer, director and producer. He is best known for his role in the 2006 movie, Revolutionary Road.
• Toby MacFerrin: an American actor, director and producer who is well known for his roles in movies such as Speed Racer, Mean Girls and Easy A.
• Julian MacFerrin: an American actor and musician, best known for his time with the band Follow for Now that went on tour in 2003.
• Anthony MacFerrin: a prominent violinist and composer who has worked with the likes of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Symphony, and the San Francisco Ballet.
• Sunny MacFerrin: a Canadian actor, writer, and director best known for his role in the 2003 movie, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
• Abbi MacFerrin: an American singer and songwriter from California who has released three albums, including "With You" (2019).
• Hailey MacFerrin: an American model and actress based in Los Angeles.
• Romilly MacFerrin: an English artist best known for his depiction of the Apocalypse in the 1820s cycle of paintings.
• Cristina MacFerrin: an American author and poet whose work has been featured in various anthologies, magazines and books.
• Adam MacFerrin: an American filmmaker and photographer based in Austin, Texas. He is best known for his documentary projects that explore cultural issues.

Other surnames

MacFerren