Surname McFarrelly - Meaning and Origin
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McFarrelly: What does the surname McFarrelly mean?
McFarrelly is a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Fearghaile," which means "son of Fearghal." The name Fearghal itself means "man of valor," so the McFarrelly surname essentially means "son of the man of valor." As with many traditional Gaelic names, McFarrelly underwent several spelling changes over time due to varying interpretations, transcription errors, and the process of Anglicization. Variant forms of the name include Farrelly, Farrell, O'Farrell, and many others. The McFarrelly clan originated in the ancient territory of Annaly, which encompasses much of present-day County Longford. Today, McFarrelly is a relatively rare last name, but it can still be found in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora globally.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFarrelly: Where does the name McFarrelly come from?
The surname McFarrelly originates from Ireland, specifically from the northern regions. It is derived from the old Gaelic name Mac Fearghaile, where "Mac" means son of, and "Fearghaile" combines the elements "fear" meaning man, and "gall" meaning valor, hence denoting "son of the man of valor". Over the years, it has gone through various spellings, including McFarrelly, MacFarrelly, Farrelly, and more.
Today, the surname McFarrelly is found largely dispersed around the globe due to emigration, mostly caused by the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. People with this surname or its variations can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, among others, but it still remains most common in Ireland, particularly in northern regions and areas where there is a significant Irish diaspora. As with many Irish surnames, the spelling has often been anglicized or simplified over time in these different regions. Regardless of these changes, the name retains its link to its Gaelic origins reflecting a heritage of valor.
Variations of the surname McFarrelly
The surname McFarrelly is of Irish origin and can have alternate spellings and variants due to regional dialects, transcription errors and anglicisation. Here are some possible variations:
1. McFarley: A variant of the surname McFarrelly with a similar phonetic sound that may have resulted from misspellings.
2. McFarlane: A change in the last part of the surname, again due to regional dialects or phonetic interpretations.
3. McFerrally: This looks similar to McFarrelly, but with changes in vowels that could be due to phonetic interpretation.
4. MacFarrelly: Similar to McFarrelly, but with the Irish prefix "Mac" instead of "Mc".
5. McFarrel: A shortened version of the surname that could be a result of transcription errors or simplification over time.
6. McParland: A variant originating from a similar Gaelic surname.
7. McPharlin: Another variation that could have resulted from regional dialects and phonetic interpretation.
8. McFarl: A transcription error or phonetic misspelling of McFarrelly.
Remember, surnames can have many variations over time and across locations. Different branches of a family can also adapt the name differently, resulting in many related but slightly different surnames.
Famous people with the name McFarrelly
- Mike Mcfarrelly: is an actor, known for his work in TV shows such as The Drew Carey Show, Raising Arizona and Mrs. Doubtfire.
- Pat Mcfarrelly: is an actor, producer, director and screenwriter best known for writing the screenplay for the Academy Award-nominated film The Neverending Story
- Scott Mcfarrelly: is an actor, producer and screenwriter best known for his work on the films Jurassic Park and A League of Their Own.
- Mary Mcfarrelly: is an accomplished CDU environmental scientist and the creator of online educational tools, such as the Wild Wild World of Nature.
- Sean Mcfarrelly: is an actor and producer best known for his work on Robocop 2 and The Omega Man.
- Dominic Mcfarrelly: is an award-winning British actor, best known for his roles in the films Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets and Sabotage.
- Patrick Mcfarrelly: is a successful Irish theatre actor and director who has won several awards for his work.
- Rory Mcfarrelly: is an actor, writer and producer who has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for his writing on both The X-Files and Heroes.
- Graham Mcfarrelly: is a Canadian writer, director and producer best known for his work on the TIFF ‘Anchorman’ Movie and TV series.