Surname McFarral - Meaning and Origin
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McFarral: What does the surname McFarral mean?
The surname McFarral has Irish origins and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Pháraic, which means "son of Patrick." Most traditional Irish surnames are patronymic and highlight a direct paternal ancestor of the bearer. In this case, the last name McFarral refers to a descendant of a predecessor named Patrick. Patrick itself has roots in Latin and translates to "nobleman" or "patrician." Therefore, the surname McFarral underscores nobility and paternity, reflecting the ancestral lineage's esteem and patriarchal connections. It's important to note that variations exist regarding the spelling of this surname because of the multitude of interpretations during transcription from Gaelic into English, including MacFarrell, McFarrell, MacFerrall, among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFarral: Where does the name McFarral come from?
The surname McFarral is of Scottish and Irish origin and it originates from the Gaelic personal name 'Fearghal', which means 'super valor', comprising of the elements 'fear' meaning 'man', and 'gal' denoting 'valor'. The surname also has a variant spelling as MacFerghail, which is commonly seen in Ireland. The prefix 'Mc' or 'Mac' means 'son of'. So, the surname McFarral means 'son of Fearghal'.
Surnames like McFarral are common in countries where Scottish and Irish diasporas are found such as the United States, Canada, and Australia due to waves of migration in the past. However, the surname is considered rare and not very common today. As with many old surnames, it is challenging to accurately locate where it is most common now. The prevalence and distribution of any surname can vary over time and may not be concentrated in the areas of their origin. To establish the current common location of the McFarral surname, one may require detailed demographic data.
Variations of the surname McFarral
The surname McFarral has originated from Scotland and Ireland and variations of this surname can be found in different regions of the world. The variations in the spelling can be attributed to translation of the name from Gaelic to English over centuries.
Alternate spelling for McFarral may include: McFarrell, McFarrel, MacFarrell, MacFarrel, MacFarral, McFerrall, MacFerrall, McFerral, and MacFerral.
Additionally, there are surnames that have similar origins such as McFarland, McFadden, MacFarlane, McPherron, and McFerrin. They might not be exact variants, but they bear resemblance in terms of phonetics and Gaelic roots.
Names can often change quite significantly over time, with some variants representing Anglicised or regional versions. It's also worth noting that inconsistent spelling may have been common in past centuries due to varying levels of literacy and standards for recordkeeping. So, several generations back, one might find quite different versions of the same name, all referring to the same family lineage. The McFarral surname and its variants likely dilute to a common root referencing a leader, superior or a man of strength in Gaelic.
Famous people with the name McFarral
- Meryl McFarland: Actress in animated series like Darkwing Duck, Tiny Toon Adventures, and DuckTales.
- Ron McFarland: Extensively decorated former Lieutenant General of the United States Army.
- Blaine McFarland: Professional baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Marisa McFarland: Television reporter for local news who appears on The CW's Asheville, NC affiliate WSPA-TV.
- Daniel McFarland: Former head coach of Stanford football who also worked with NFL franchises such as the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers.
- John McFarland: Professional rower who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
- Jameson McFarland: American television writer, known for his work on Gilmore Girls and Doctor Who.
- Stan McFarland: Former professional basketball player who played with the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks.
- Hilary McFarland: International artist best known for her vivid abstract figurative portraits.
- Neil McFarland: Well-known Canadian business and political leader, who was the Premier of New Brunswick from 1971-1975.