Surname McFarley - Meaning and Origin
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McFarley: What does the surname McFarley mean?
The surname McFarley is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Fhearadhaigh." The prefix "Mac" typically means "son of," while "Fhearadhaigh" is thought to translate to "man of valor" or "man of spirit." Therefore, the name generally signifies "son of the man of valor." Over various periods and due to migration, the name has different spelling variations including McFarley, MacFarley, McFearley, MacFearley, and others. These families were primarily found in Counties Armagh and Down in Ireland. It's crucial to remember that surname meanings can be approximate since names may have evolved or changed meaning over centuries and cultural shifts.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFarley: Where does the name McFarley come from?
The surname McFarley is of Irish origin, primarily derived from the Gaelic Mac Fearghaile, meaning "son of Fearghal". The name Fearghal is composed of two elements, "fear" which means 'man', and "gal" translated as 'valor', so it could be understood as “man of valor". It was first found in County Donegal, located in Northwestern Ireland, in the province of Ulster. The McFarleys were of the Uí Néill, a group of families who descended from Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary king of Ireland.
It has evolved over time and taken different forms such as McFarland, Mac Farlan, Mac Farlin, and so forth. Today, it's a rare name and it's not particularly concentrated in specific regions. However, the highest number of people with the McFarley surname are found in the United States, Ireland, England, Canada, and Australia as per ancestry and surname distribution records. Despite its dispersion, people with the surname McFarley maintain a proud heritage rooted in Irish tradition and history.
Variations of the surname McFarley
The surname McFarley is of Irish origin and is an anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Fhearadhaigh, which means “son of Fearadhach.” It has numerous variants and spellings, reflecting the diverse ways it has been translated and transcribed over time. Some of the most common variants include McFarland, MacFarland, McFarlane, MacFarlane, and Mackfarlane.
In some instances, the surname may also have different prefixes such as "Mac," "Mc," or "Mack" which are interchangeable and are used to denote “son of.” For example, McFarley itself could also be spelled as MacFarley, Mackfarley, M'Farley or even McFarly.
Surnames similar to McFarley, but with slight spelling differences include McFarlin, McFarlen, McFerley, and McFarlagh. There could also be a ‘Mac’ version for each of these variants.
In terms of surnames with the same origin, any surname that starts with "Mc" or "Mac" can potentially share the same origin as they are all derived from Gaelic patronymic naming tradition. However, the specific affix (i.e., "Farley") would vary, giving rise to many unique surnames with the same root but different resultant meanings.
Please note that variations of the surname may also depend on regional accents and dialects, historical spellings, and even clerical errors in records.
Famous people with the name McFarley
- Chris Farley: Actor best known for having starred in films such as 'Tommy Boy', 'Beverly Hills Ninja' and 'Billy Madison'.
- Bill Farley: Businessman and philanthropist credited with contributing to the wealth and celebrity status of iconic brands such as Timberland, Puma and Boxer Rex.
- James McFarley: British author whose comedic works, such as 'It's All About Me!', 'How To Be A Perfect Parent' and 'Paranoid: The Conspiracy Theory Game', have won him critical acclaim.
- Isabel Farley: Scottish artist whose work, often influenced by the natural world, has been exhibited in galleries across the UK.
- Richard Farley: Renowned American architect who designed the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
- Calista McFarley: Model, actress and producer who has appeared in films such as 'That Summer', 'Humans on Ice' and 'The Cat's Meow'.
- Marcus Farley: Award-winning LGBT rights advocate in the United States and Europe.
- William McFarley: Award-winning country singer who has released several chart-topping albums, including the gold-certified 'It's My Life'.
- William Farley: Admiral in the United States Navy who served during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.
- Scott Farley: Award-winning journalist and author who wrote acclaimed works such as 'The Mayans: Myths and Mysteries' and 'California Dreaming: Refugees from the 60s'.