Surname McFarrell - Meaning and Origin
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McFarrell: What does the surname McFarrell mean?
The surname McFarrell is of Scottish origin and predominantly found in Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic personal name Fergal, composed of the elements 'fear' meaning 'man' and 'gal' meaning 'valour', therefore 'man of valour'. The ‘Mc’ prefix indicates a Gaelic origin, meaning 'son of'. Therefore, McFarrell could potentially mean 'son of a brave or valorous man'. However, variations in spelling, caused by Anglo-Norman French scribes recording the name phonetically, can be found throughout the history of the name. Some of these variations include MacFerghal, MacFergus, McFerrill, McFerrell, and several others. As with many surnames, geographical and regional factors can influence these variations. As such, the surname's meaning may differ slightly depending on its specific historical and familial context.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFarrell: Where does the name McFarrell come from?
The surname McFarrell is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic MacFhearghail, which means "son of super valour". The roots can be traced back to the ancient clan system of Scotland where it was first used by the people of Lanarkshire, a county in the central Lowlands. However, over the centuries, many Scottish families migrated to other parts of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and North America due to the Highland Clearances - large scale evictions in Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries. In terms of current prevalence, it's not a common name. The largest concentration of individuals with the McFarrell surname today is found in the United States, particularly in states like California, Ohio, and Texas. Small numbers are also found in Canada, Australia, and of course, Scotland and Ireland. As a result of spelling evolutions and variations, related surnames such as McFarlane and McFarland are more widely encountered.
Variations of the surname McFarrell
The McFarrell surname, an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Fearghail, carries a variety of alternative spellings and surnames originating from the same roots.
Variants of McFarrell can include McFarlane, McFarlin, McFarlane, McFarling, and McFarland. Other common spelling variants may include MacFarrell, MacFarrel, MacFarlane, MacFarlin, MacFarland, and MacFerrell.
One of the main reasons for this wide variety of spellings was that medieval scribes and church officials mostly recorded names as they sounded, resulting in a person’s name being spelled in many different ways.
The surname originates from the Gaelic "fearghal," meaning "man of valor," often Anglicised to "Fergal," and the prefix "Mac," meaning "son of."
Further, surnames with the same or similar meaning can include Farrell, O’Farrell, Forrell and Ferrell, which have the same roots but lack the "Mac" or "Mc" prefix, indicating the Gaelic-Irish descent.
Moreover, less common versions may also exist due to regional influences, familial preference, or clerical errors in historical record-keeping. Elegant names like these remind us of the rich tapestry of our past.
Famous people with the name McFarrell
- Margaret McFarlane: Margaret is a prominent American actress who is well known for her roles in shows such as Family Matters, Two and a Half Men, and Mom.
- Brianna McFarrland: Brianna is an accomplished singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, Minnesota who has collaborated with musicians like Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
- Patrick McFarlane: Patrick was a professional Canadian ice hockey player who was drafted fifth overall in the midfield draft of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.
- Bill McFarlane: Bill is a retired American professional basketball player who was drafted 20th overall in the 1963 NBA Draft.
- Priyanka McFarlane: Priyanka is an Indian singer and songwriter who has released numerous solo singles and several EPs.
- Conor McFarrell: Conor is an English professional footballer who currently plays for New York City FC in Major League Soccer.
- Murray McFarrell: Murray is a Canadian film director, producer and writer who has directed films like Hard Core Logo and The Bay of Love and Sorrows.
- Kristin McFarlane: Kristin is a Canadian artist who is well known for her sculptures and installation art.
- Tommy McFarlane: Tommy is a Scottish musician who is best known for his work with Hudson Taylor and Kodaline.
- David H McFarlane: David is an award-winning American author who has written books such as The Art of Discovering Aptitudes and Mastery of Learning.