Surname MacPharlane - Meaning and Origin

MacPharlane: What does the surname MacPharlane mean?

The Scottish Gaelic surname MacPharlane originates from the clan of the same name. This sept was a branch of the Clan MacFarlane from Loch Slapin in the Isle of Skye. The MacFarlanes were part of the larger Clan Donald.

The Gaelic version of the name was Mac Phàrlain and translates to mean "son of Parlan", Parlan being a form of Bartholomew. However, the hereditary chiefs of the clan claimed descent from an ancient bard called Gille-Brighde Bran (or "Gillebride the Bard").

The MacPharlane family were descendants of the ancient Earls of Lennox, and also held the hereditary post of Sheriff of Dumbarton. They had a long history of loyalty to the crown during the turbulent time of royal struggles for power in Scotland and were prominent in upholding the law in the area.

The MacPharlandes were known for their military prowess, and they were some of the first to take up the epic cause of Robert the Bruce in his struggle against the English. As a result, the MacPharlanes were rewarded with generous grants of land in Lanarkshire and eventually across the Lowlands of Scotland.

The contribution of MacPharlane clansmen to their country and to the military history of Scotland has been recognised and remembered to this day.

MacPharlane: Where does the name MacPharlane come from?

The last name MacPharlane is most commonly found in Scotland, although it is not limited to the country and can be found in other parts of the world. In Scotland, the surname is fairly widespread, particularly in the lowlands but is more rarely found in the highlands.

The surname is thought to have originated in the late 1100s. It is believed to be derived from a place in Stirlingshire called Struan, which was originally called Struann Mac Phalair. This old Gaelic term referred to the 'stream of the son of the parish priest'.

The MacPharlane name has multiple variations, including MacFarlane, McFarlane, MacFarland and Farlane. These variants are common in different parts of the world and all are found throughout Scotland.

The MacPharlane name and its variants are also found in the United States, particularly in the Northeast. One of the largest clusters of this surname is in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. This surname is additionally common in Australia and Canada.

The surname MacPharlane is also found in China, where it was taken to by people of Scottish descent in the 1700s. In China, the name is known as Makaifulan and is one of the few non-Chinese names still in use.

In summary, the last name MacPharlane is most commonly found in Scotland, but is also scattered throughout the United States, Australia, Canada and China. The name has alternate spellings, including MacFarlane, McFarlane, MacFarland and Farlane.

Variations of the surname MacPharlane

The surname MacPharlane is of Scottish-Gaelic origin and its variants include MacFarlane, MacFarland, and McFarlane. Over time, the malleability of language means that spellings of the same origin can vary drastically, with the ‘Mac’ prefix being represented with alternate prefixes, such as Mc, M‘, and sometimes even a simple 'P'.

The surname can appear as MacPharlane, MacFarlane, MacFarland, McFarlane, Pharlane, Farland, Farlane, Farrlane, Faulon, Phaulon, Phelan, Phelon, Whelan, Whelen, Whelon, Wheling and many more variants, as its transliteration onto old English records by church clerks changed its spelling over time.

On many old documents, the surname was often spelled as 'MacFarlyne', which is older Scots spelling and its branches trace back to a 13th century Chief of the Clan named Parlane. However, by the 19th century, the spelling was more commonly “MacPharlane” in Scotland and this surname is still found widely today both in Ireland and Scotland.

Overall, the surname MacPharalne is firmly rooted in the history of Scotland and Ireland and its many variants reflect the changing nature of language. The MacPharlane and its many variations will continue to bind many generations of families in a shared cultural identity.

Famous people with the name MacPharlane

• Seth MacFarlane: an American actor, voice actor, animator, writer, producer, director, singer and songwriter.
• Ryan MacFarlane: a Canadian professional ice hockey player.
• Andrew MacFarlane: a British actor.
• Hogan MacFarlane: an Australian actor, writer, and director.
• John MacFarlane: a Canadian computer scientist and entrepreneur.
• Christopher MacFarlane: a British lawyer and Conservative Party politician.
• Sir Angus MacFarlane: a Scottish soldier, scholar, and politician.
• Harold MacFarlane: a British athlete and businessman.
• Lowrie MacFarlane: a Canadian sculptor.
• Ryan MacFarlane: an American professional basketball player.
• Michael MacFarlane: a Scottish rugby union player.
• Ruth MacFarlane: an English dramatic soprano and actress.
• Florence MacFarlane: a British athlete and Olympic medalist.
• Gerry MacFarlane: an English footballer and cricketer.
• Jennifer MacFarlane: an American recording artist.
• Graham MacFarlane: a Scottish professional football player and manager.
• Tamara MacFarlane: a British conservation biologist and television presenter.
• David MacFarlane: a Canadian journalist and novelist.
• John MacFarlane: a Scottish-born American teacher, lawyer and physician.
• Bob MacFarlane: a Scottish international footballer.

Other surnames

MacPharlanMacPharlandMacPharlon