Surname McPhearson - Meaning and Origin
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McPhearson: What does the surname McPhearson mean?
McPhearson is a surname of Scottish origin. Like many Celtic or Gaelic names that begin with "Mc" or "Mac," it signifies "son of." In this case, McPhearson means "son of Phearson". The name 'Phearson' itself is derived from 'Parson', which means clergyman. Over time, and with regional dialect variations, Parson evolved into Phearson. Therefore, the surname McPhearson can be understood to mean "son of the clergyman". Different variations of the name exist based on geographical location such as MacPherson, McPherson and M'Pherson, but they all carry the same meaning. It's associated with the Scottish Clan MacPherson, a Highland clan in Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcPhearson: Where does the name McPhearson come from?
The surname McPhearson is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac a' Phearsain" which means "Son of the Parson." The term was often bestowed upon the son of the clergy. It is a variant spelling of the more common surname McPherson.
The McPhearson clan has its roots in Inverness, a region in the Scottish Highlands. The badge of Clan Macpherson, whose motto is "Touch not the cat bot a glove," features a wildcat, a symbol of the Scottish Highlands.
Today, McPhearson, much like other Scottish surnames, can be found globally due to historical emigration, especially in countries where Scots settled like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Nonetheless, Scotland and Northern Ireland continue to harbor a significant number of individuals bearing the McPhearson surname.
Variations of the surname McPhearson
The surname McPhearson is of Scottish origin. It derived from MacGille Phadraig meaning "son of the devotee of Saint Patrick", who was a famous Saint in Ireland. Over time, the surname has been spelled in various ways due to factors like regional dialects and the phonetic spelling by clerical officials.
The most common variant is MacPherson, which signifies the Gaelic pronunciation. Another similar variant is McPherson. More phonetic spellings have produced versions such as McFerson or McFersen, stemming from a softer pronunciation of the "ph". McPharson and MacFerson are other less common variants.
Sometimes the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix, which denotes "son of", is dropped, resulting in surnames like Pherson or Phearson. Similarly, the surname could also be spelt as Pearson, replacing 'ph' with 'p', which is also a common English surname.
The Anglicized version of this Scottish surname appears aserson, the "Mac" prefix again dropped, and the "Ph" simplifying to "F".
These versions of the surname have likely dispersed over time and place, with regional, cultural, and personal influences changing and adapting the original surname McPhearson.
Famous people with the name McPhearson
- Mark McPhearson—Former professional basketball player in the NBA from 1989 to 1995.
- Eliza McPhearson—Popular author of romance novels and children’s books.
- David McPhearson—Award-winning actor, known for his roles in modern TV shows and movies such as The Good Place and 48 Hours.
- Jenna McPhearson—Celebrity chef with her own cooking show and cookbook series.
- Johnson McPhearson—Award-winning country singer who has released several albums and toured extensively.
- Matthew McPhearson—Lead guitarist in the Grammy-nominated hard rock band Phonic Fusion.
- Robert McPhearson—CEO of the world’s largest private equity firm.
- Sheila McPhearson—E-commerce entrepreneur and founder of the fashion company McPhearson Designs.
- Jessica McPhearson—Contemporary artist whose work has been exhibited at multiple national galleries.
- Daisy McPhearson—Award-winning journalist and television host.