Contents [hide]

McPhail History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

McPhail History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

McPhail is an ancient Pictish-Scottish name. It is derived from the personal name Paul. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Phàil. 1

Another source notes the name is from "Mac Phail, ‘Paul's Son'. Phail is Anglicised from Maelfabhaill. ‘Maelfabhaill, son of Muircheartach, slain by the Norsemen'. " 2

Early Origins of the McPhail family

The surname McPhail was first found in Inverness, where one of the first records was of Gillemore M'Phale who was one of an inquest at Inverness in 1414. 3

From this earliest record, spellings were frequently changed. "Donald M'Pawle witnessed an indenture between Doncan Makyntosche and Huchone the Rois, Baron of Kylraok, 1490, and Donald Makfaill and Gylleis Makfaill were witnesses to a contract of friendship between Dunbar of Westfield and the Clanchattan, 1492. Finlay MacChaell, bailie of Rothesay, 1501, appears in 1503 as Macfaill, and again in 1506 as Makcaill, under which name he received a grant of a third of the lands of Dunallirde in Bute. The lands of Dulatyr in the lordship of Petty were let to Gilleis McFale in 1504. Sir John Mcfaell, a Pope's knight, who witnessed a bond of manrent in 1533, is possibly D John M'Fale who witnessed a charter relating to the church of Lindichty, 1535, and in 1538 appears as rector of the church." 3

Early History of the McPhail family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McPhail research. Another 420 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1411, 1481, 1490, 1502, 1510, 1533, 1547, 1548, 1557, 1575, 1578, 1579, 1583, 1588, 1589, 1603, 1618, 1670, 1671, 1678, 1684, 1686, 1692, 1699, 1706, 1711, 1736, 1754, 1785, 1786, 1794, 1805 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McPhail History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McPhail Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. McPhail has appeared MacPhail, MacPhial, MacPhiel, MacFail, MacFall, MacFaul, MacVail, MacPhale, MacPail, MacPhaul, MacFale, Phail, Fayle and many more.

Early Notables of the McPhail family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was James MacPhail (fl. 1786-1805), gardener, the son of a highland peasant, born in Aberdeenshire in 1754. In his seventeenth year he obtained employment as a farm labourer. 'I ate and drank,' he says, 'at the same table as my master and mistress, for I was the only servant or labourer they kept' (Hints and Observations on the Improvement of...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McPhail Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McPhail Ranking

In the United States, the name McPhail is the 6,211^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Migration of the McPhail family to Ireland

Some of the McPhail family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McPhail migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the McPhail name:

McPhail Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John McPhail and his wife Christie and three children, who arrived in New York in 1739
John McPhail, who landed in New York in 1739 5
Isabella McPhail, who landed in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1772 5
Donald McPhail, aged 9, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775 5
Duncan McPhail, aged 3, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McPhail Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Angus McPhail, aged 25, who arrived in Tennessee in 1812 5
James McPhail, who arrived in South Carolina in 1816 5

McPhail migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McPhail Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mrs. Abigail McPhail U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
Mr. John McPhail U.E. who settled in Didgeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 6
Mr. Hugh McPhail U.E., (McPhales, McVail) who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 6

McPhail migration to Australia +

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

McPhail Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Archibald McPhail, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Peter Mcphail, (b. 1810), aged 21, Scottish dyer who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Miss. Margaret McPhail, Scottish convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Angus McPhail, aged 41, a farmer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Hercules" 10
Donald McPhail, aged 40, a shepherd, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Hercules" 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McPhail 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:

McPhail Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William McPhail, Scottish settler from Selkirk travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 11
Mrs. McPhail, Scottish settler from Selkirk with 3 sons travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 11
Mr. McPhail, Scottish settler born aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 11
Mr. William McPhail, Scottish settler with 3 sons travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 11
Mrs. McPhail, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McPhail (post 1700) +

Harold Thomas McPhail (1912-1977), American football fullback
Jerris Cornelius McPhail, former professional American football player
Addie McPhail (1905-2003), American film actress
Larry McPhail, retired American soccer forward
Sharon McPhail (b. 1950), American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, 1993, 2005 (primary), 2009 (primary)
Roy McPhail, American politician, Mayor of Adrian, Michigan, 1960
Kenneth McPhail, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1968
Jennifer McPhail, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 2004
A. R. McPhail (b. 1883), American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Richmond County, 1913-14
Andrew "Andy" McPhail, Scottish professional rugby league footballer
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McPhail family +

Frank Rock Slide

Mr. Alex McPhail, Canadian miner working in the town of Frank, Alberta who survived the Frank Rock Slide on 29th April 1903 12

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
South Australian Register Wednesday 27 July 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HMS Hercules 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hercules1853.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Calgary Herald news article retrieved 11th August 2021. Retrieved from https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Calgary_Herald_Thu__Apr_30__1903_-copy-scaled.jpg