Surname McFearson - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McFearson: What does the surname McFearson mean?
The surname McFearson is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic name "MacPhearson," which means "son of the parson." The "Mac" prefix denotes "son of," while "Phearson" comes from "pear," a variant of "parr," meaning "the parson." Therefore, this surname was traditionally given to the son of a church minister or parson. Over time, the surname evolved into various forms and spellings, including McPherson, MacPherson, MacFirson and McFearson, among others. It's important to note that surnames can change over generations due to migration, regional dialects and illiteracy in earlier times, which led to names being recorded phonetically. The McFearson family originally belonged to the Clan Chattan, a Scottish clan from the Highlands, contributing to their rich cultural heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFearson: Where does the name McFearson come from?
The surname McFearson is of Scottish origin, stemming from the Gaelic 'Mac a' Phearsain' which means 'son of the parson.' This name was predominantly used by the Celtic Church, where the parson, similar to a priest, was allowed to marry and have children. McFearson is a variation of the more commonly found surname 'MacPherson' or 'McPherson.' The McPherson Clan is associated with two areas in Scotland: Badenoch in Northeast Scotland and North West Highlands.
Today, due to historical Scottish emigration, surnames like McFearson, MacPherson or McPherson can be found in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, this surname is most common in states with larger Scottish-American populations such as California, Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Michigan. Despite its diaspora, this surname is still prevalent in Scotland.
Variations of the surname McFearson
The surname McFearson is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Phearsain", which means "son of Pears". The name itself has a wide variety of spellings brought about by different regional and dialectic accents, as well as inaccuracies in transcription over the years.
Here are some variations and related surnames: McPherson, MacPherson, MacPhearson, MacFearson, McPhearson, M'Pherson, McFerson, M'Fersen, McFerzan, Ferson. The prefixes can be "Mc", "Mac", or "M'", meaning "son of", followed by phonetic variations of "Phearson".
Surnames of similar origin likely derived from the same root may include Pearson, Pierson, Peerson, and Piers.
Note that these names might not be universally acknowledged as variants or directly related, but could very well be perceived as individual, unique surnames especially in different geographical locations. Moreover, the usage and popularity of certain variants may differ considerably depending on the region, with some being more prevalent in Scotland, others in Ireland, the United States, or other countries with significant Scottish diaspora populations.
Famous people with the name McFearson
- James McFearson: Actor best known for playing Lieutenant Bender in the 1950s television series, The Navy Lark.
- Bob McFearson: American television writer, producer, and director. He is known for shows such as Hillerman, Three's Company, and The Wonder Years.
- Hugh McFearson: Major League Baseball outfielder, who played in the National League from 1896 to 1911 for various teams, mainly the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Yankees.
- Brian McFearson: Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released several solo albums and has been featured on albums by artists including Santana and Elton John.
- Samantha McFearson: Olympic athlete who competed for Canada in the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
- Patrick McFearson: Reality television personality from season 18 of ABC's The Bachelor.
- Demi McFearson: Actress best known for her role as Maria in the 2015 film San Andreas.
- Charles McFearson: Illustrator and author who created the fantasy world of the Borrowers.