Surname McPharlane - Meaning and Origin
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McPharlane: What does the surname McPharlane mean?
The last name McPharlane is a Scottish surname of Clan Macfarlane. Derived from Gaelic, the name means son or descendant of Parlan, itself derived from the personal name Parthlan, which can be translated to mean ‘little Arthur’ or ‘Arthur the small’. Legend holds that the McPharlane Clan descended from a son of the Pictish King Arthur of the 5th century. Other origins theorize the name comes from the Irish Gaelic O’Fearghail meaning 'man of the king'.
The McPharlanes were a notable Lowland Clan that dominated in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area of Scotland, and were said to be descendants of some of the earliest Christian missionaries in the area. The clan’s progress and gradual rise to power began early with two brothers, Lovell and Gilchrist, who followed the Earl of Lennox during the 13th century and fought alongside him against Edward I of England. Lovell and Gilchrist were given service land in return for their loyalty, and the land granted to Lovell eventually became Parton in Dunbartonshire, land that is still held by the McPharlane family today.
The McPharlanes were staunch Jacobites and during the 1700s could be found fighting in numerous battles such as the Battle of Killiecrankie and the Battle of Sheriffmuir. Jacobite Rising of 1745 saw 6 McPharlanes join the Jacobite army, and despite the rebellion being unsuccessful for the cause, the Clan retained their land and privileges.
Today, the McPharlane name can mainly be found in Scotland, especially the Highlands and Lowlands, although there is a noteworthy presence in Canada, the United States, and Australasia.
Order DNA origin analysisMcPharlane: Where does the name McPharlane come from?
The last name McPharlane is most commonly found in Scotland and Ireland today. The McPharlane families are a Highland Scottish clan and have a long history tracing back to the 13th century. The McPharlane family can be traced to Allan, the first chief of Clan Macfarlane.
The name McPharlane is also found in Canada. In the 1600s, settlers from Scotland and Ireland arrived in Canada via Ulster and Nova Scotia, settling in parts of what are now Ontario and Quebec. Some members of the McPharlane family were among the early settlers and there are many McPharlanes living in Canada today.
The United States also has a number of individuals with the name McPharlane. In the late 1800s, many Scots and Irish immigrated to the United States to start a new life. Many of these families took the name McPharlane with them and there are more than 1,000 individuals in the United States today with the name McPharlane.
To conclude, the last name McPharlane is most common today in Scotland and Ireland, but can also be found around the world, particularly in Canada and the United States, due to past migrations.
Variations of the surname McPharlane
The surname McPharlane has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
McPharlane is an anglicised form of the Scottish surname Mac Pharlain, which comes from the Gaelic Mac Parthalain meaning "son of Parthalan". The name can also be found with the spelling of Mac Pharlane, McFarland and Farlane.
In the United States, McPharlane can be found with the variant spelling McFarlane. In some cases, the surname has been shortened to Pharrell or Farlane.
In Ireland, the McPharlane surname has been anglicized to MacFarlane, McFarlane and Farlane.
Variants of the surname found in Australia and Canada include MacFarlan, MacFarlane, MacPharlain, MacPharlane and McFarlin.
Many people have adopted the surname McLellan, which is an incorrect spelling of the Gaelic Mac Parthalain, or Mac Plellan which is an Anglicisation of the Irish form of the name, Mac Fhlannchaidh.
In the United States, the surrender MacFarlan and MacFarlane is also found. This is likely due to immigration from Ireland, where the name originated.
There are also some variations in spelling due to different regional dialects, such as MacPhailin, McPhailin and McFalin.
In Scotland, the Mac Pharlain surname was anglicized to MacFarlane. Similarly, in Wales and Ireland, the surname morphed into the McFarland form.
Finally, in southern England, the MacFarlin surname is also found. This is likely due to the Anglicisation of McPharlin.
Famous people with the name McPharlane
- Sean McPharlane: Member of the band the Fletcher Harrington Band
- Kyle MacPharlane: Professional hockey player, currently playing for the Florida Panthers
- Laura McPharlane: British actress known for her roles in Casualty and Doctors
- Andrew McPharland: Academic and former President of the International Association for Semiotics Studies
- Stuart McPharlane: Drummer in the band, Exist Within
- Craig McPharlane: Former Major League Baseball pitcher and current front office official for the Texas Rangers
- Keri McPharlane: Former professional motorbike racer
- Tony McPharlane: Professional golfer
- Jordan McPharlane: Professional basketball player
- Luke McPharlane: Canadian actor best known for his roles in Brothers & Sisters and Casual