Surname MacPharson - Meaning and Origin
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MacPharson: What does the surname MacPharson mean?
The surname MacPharson is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Pherson which means "son of Pherson". It’s understood to have been taken from the old personal given name Pherson, meaning “son of the parson”. This is thought to be in reference to a son of a clergyman, and the name can be found in the clause of the 12th century Church of Scotland.
The MacPherson clan is thought to have originated from the area of Strathspey in Badenoch, Scotland. The clan’s first chief was Aonghas Oig, who was the son of Pherson. He was awarded the lands of Cluny from Alexander II of Scotland. The founder of the MacPherson's of Scotstown was Gilbert MacPherson, who received the lands of Badenoch in 1320.
The MacPherson clan has a fierce history of doing battle, including during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The MacPherson chief was slain during the Battle of Inverlochy in 1431. The current clan chief is the 11th generation of Chiefs, and resides in Crieff, Perthshire. The Clan’s motto is 'Touch not the cat bot a glove', taken from an ancient Macpherson legend.
Today, the surname MacPherson is well-known around the world, with many people of the clan tracing their ancestry all the way back to the founding members in Scotland. As such, the surname MacPherson carries with it deep roots and a proud history.
Order DNA origin analysisMacPharson: Where does the name MacPharson come from?
The last name MacPharson is primarily found in Scotland as a variation of the original name MacPherson. It is a common Scottish surname and can also be found in countries with Scottish ancestry such as Canada, the United States and Australia.
The origin of the surname dates back to the 12th century in what is now Sutherland, located in northern Scotland. There, Clan Chief of MacPherson began reigning, having come down from king Cináed mac Ailpín of the Pictish kingdom. This name is derived from the Gaelic language and roughly translates to ‘son of the parson’.
Today the name is predominantly found in Scotland, where the majority of the population can trace back their family heritage to a long line of ‘MacPhersons’. In other countries with Scottish heritage, such as Canada, the United States and Australia, the name may be spelt differently such as ‘MacPharison’ or ‘MacPharson’ but is ultimately connected to the same origins.
In 2020, People with the last name MacPharson can be found all around the world. The Clan is one of the largest and historically important families of the Highlanders of Scotland. As such, there is no one specific country or region that the name is limited to, although its roots can certainly be traced back to this historic Scottish family.
Variations of the surname MacPharson
The surname MacPharson is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Pheadair or Mac Phearson, meaning "son of Peter". Variations of the surname are MacPherson, MacPhershan, MacFerson, MacFersonn, MacFarshon, MacFarsan, McPerson, and MakFerson. The surname is primarily found in Scotland, but it is also found in the United States.
In Scotland, the MacPhersons were most likely descended from Clann an t' Saidhe, a branch of the Clan Chattan Confederation that settled in Badenoch and was led by MacPherson of Cluny. The Clan Chattan was traceable back to "Tanaidhe MacGillespick", who lived in the 12th century.
The many variants of the MacPherson surname can be considered to be spellings from anglicized versions of the Scottish Gaelic “MacPhearson”. These surname variations largely depend upon the phonetics of the local dialect in which the surname was being recorded. Various dialects in Scotland, Ireland, and England tended to have unique versions of a family’s name due to different spelling conventions. As such, variants of the MacPherson surname include MacFesnu, MacFerson, MacFeskane, MacFersane, MacPhersan, MacFersonne, MacPheldair, and McKewron.
The Irish spelling of the surname is MacPearing. The Irish MacPherson family was likely descended from a group of settlers called the Sliochd Mhic Shamhrain, a group of MacPhearsons who were one of the leading branches of the Galloglass, a group of mercenary soldiers of mixed Scottish-Gaelic and Norse descent who first appeared in Ireland in the 13th century.
The MacPherson surname is also found in the United States, where it was likely brought by Scottish immigrants. Among the earliest examples of the surname in America is that of Rebeckah McPherson, who was recorded in 1684 in Virginia. Variations of the surname in America include MacPerson, Macpherson, MacFerson, McFersan, McFearson, MacFarson, McFarson, MacFersan, and McKerson.
Famous people with the name MacPharson
- Ronald MacPherson: Canadian lawyer and former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
- Jack MacPherson: Former Major League Baseball player
- Fergus MacPherson: Scottish painter
- Richard MacPherson: Canadian broadcaster
- Angus MacPherson: American football player
- Robert MacPherson: Scottish mathematician
- David MacPherson: Scottish actor and singer
- John MacPherson: Canadian actor
- Bruce MacPherson: American broadcast journalist
- Scott MacPherson: Canadian ice hockey player
- John MacPherson (athlete): South African olympic athlete
- Malcolm MacPherson: Australian checkers player
- Ian MacPherson: British international footballer
- Calum MacPherson: Scottish poet
- Patrick MacPherson: Scottish composer
- Sabrina MacPherson: Canadian illustrator
- Thomas MacPherson: Canadian politician
- Angus Gillespie MacPherson: Canadian politician
- Bud MacPherson: Canadian boxer
- Barry MacPherson: Australian professional golfer