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Show ContentsMcFarlane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the McFarlane family. Their name comes from the personal name Parlan, which is the Gaelic equivalent of Bartholomew. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Pharlain.

Early Origins of the McFarlane family

The surname McFarlane was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland, where they were descended from the ancient Chief Allan, son of Farlane and settled in Strathdonn in Aberdeenshire about the 9th century.

This Clan were originally known as the Clan Allan. Official documentation is derived from Gilchrist MacFarlane who was brother of Maldowen, third of the ancient Earls of Lennox in the 13th century. Grandson of Gilchrist was Parlan, the first of the Clan so named. Duncan, sixth Chief of the Clan obtained the lands of Arrochar in 1395. They supported the Earls of Lennox at the Battle of Pinkie, and they also distinguished themselves at the Battle of Langside, fighting against Queen Mary and capturing three of the Queen's standards. 1

The MacFarlane Clan acquired the lands of Arrochar from the Earl of Lennox in the late 14th century. The chief, Duncan, gained many of the surrounding lands through marriage in 1395 and claimed the title of Earl of Lennox upon the death of the old Earl, who had left no male heir. In fact, the MacFarlanes had a reasonable claim to the Earldom of Lennox, for which they fought so strenuously, for their eponymous ancestor was Parlan, the great-grandson of Gilchrist. His brother had been Maldowen, the third of the ancient earls of Lennox during the 13th century.

When the title of Earl was conferred upon Sir John Stewart, a bitter feud ensued between the MacFarlanes and the Stewarts, which lasted until the 15th century. Interestingly, in the next century, the warlike MacFarlanes became supporters of their erstwhile foes and distinguished themselves in many battles. However, by the 17th century, the Clan was outlawed and became scattered, with some members immigrating to Ireland and later to America.

Early History of the McFarlane family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McFarlane research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1705, 1734, 1758, 1767, 1768, 1771, 1791, 1792, 1804, 1832, 1857 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McFarlane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McFarlane Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McFarlane has been written as MacFarlane, MacFarlain, MacFarlan, MacFarland, MacParlan, MacParland, MacPartland, MacPartlin, MacPharlane, MacPharlin, MacPharlan and many more.

Early Notables of the McFarlane family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Walter MacFarlan (d. 1767), antiquary, second son of John Macfarlan of Arrochar and Helen, daughter of Robert, second viscount Arbuthnot, succeeded his father in 1705. From his early years Macfarlan devoted himself to antiquarian research connected with the history of Scotland. Ecclesiastical records specially attracted him, and he employed a clerk named Tait to make copies of most of the cartularies accessible to him; the copies are notable for their accuracy and neatness. Macfarlan appears to have held strict views on etiquette. 2Duncan MacFarlane (1771-1857), principal of Glasgow University, son of Duncan Macfarlane...
Another 197 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McFarlane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McFarlane World Ranking

In the United States, the name McFarlane is the 3,092nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name McFarlane is ranked the 839th most popular surname with an estimated 6,372 people with that name. 4 And in Australia, the name McFarlane is the 460th popular surname with an estimated 8,260 people with that name. 5 New Zealand ranks McFarlane as 391st with 1,669 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks McFarlane as 777th with 8,708 people. 7

Ireland Migration of the McFarlane family to Ireland

Some of the McFarlane family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States McFarlane migration to the United States +

Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name McFarlane or a variant listed above:

McFarlane Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Donald McFarlane, aged 26, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 8
  • Dond McFarlane, aged 26, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 8
  • Katherine McFarlane, aged 17, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775 8
McFarlane Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M McFarlane, aged 27, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 8
  • Duncan McFarlane, aged 51, who landed in New York in 1812 8
  • Henry McFarlane, aged 26, who landed in New York in 1812 8
  • Daniel McFarlane, aged 55, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
  • Malcolun McFarlane, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1813 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada McFarlane migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McFarlane Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Alexander McFarlane U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
  • Mrs. Charity McFarlane U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
  • Mr. Duncan McFarlane U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
  • Mr. Duncan McFarlane U.E. who settled in Didgeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 74th Highland Regiment 9
  • Mrs. Elizabeth McFarlane U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
McFarlane Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Bell McFarlane, aged 12, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Dougald McFarlane, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • John McFarlane, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Peggy McFarlane, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • John McFarlane, aged 41, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1803
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia McFarlane migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McFarlane Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Alexander McFarlane, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Joseph Mcfarlane, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
  • Miss Catherine McFarlane, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Alexander McFarlane, British Convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 13
  • Robert McFarlane, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Glenswilly" in 1839 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand McFarlane migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McFarlane Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J S McFARLANE, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • John McFARLANE, who landed in Petone, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant
  • John McFarlane, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
  • Mary McFarlane, aged 29, a sempstress, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Henry McFarlane, aged 21, a machine maker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McFarlane (post 1700) +

  • Robert Carl "Bud" McFarlane (1937-2022), American Marine Corps officer who served as National Security Advisor to President of the United States Ronald Reagan from 1983 through 1985
  • Tracey McFarlane (b. 1966), American Olympic swimmer in the 1988 Olympics
  • Robert M. McFarlane (b. 1857), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Wyoming County, 1908-09 15
  • Robert C. McFarlane, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from District of Columbia, 2008 15
  • Margaret McFarlane, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1948 15
  • Jonda McFarlane, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from District of Columbia, 2008 15
  • George R. McFarlane, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Florida, 1904 15
  • George L. McFarlane, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Allegheny County, 1895-1900 15
  • Duncan McFarlane, American politician, Member of South Dakota State Senate 32nd District, 1891-92 15
  • Douglas D. McFarlane Jr., American politician, Mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 1983, 1990 15
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Malcolm John Mcfarlane, English First Waiter from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 16
  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  11. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
  14. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GLENSWILLY 1839 (also called DAWSONS). Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Glenswilly.htm
  15. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  16. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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