McFalls History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McFalls

What does the name McFalls mean?

McFalls 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 McFalls family

The surname McFalls 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 McFalls family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McFalls 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 McFalls History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McFalls 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. McFalls has appeared MacPhail, MacPhial, MacPhiel, MacFail, MacFall, MacFaul, MacVail, MacPhale, MacPail, MacPhaul, MacFale, Phail, Fayle and many more.

Early Notables of the McFalls 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 McFalls Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McFalls Ranking

In the United States, the name McFalls is the 11,186^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the McFalls family to Ireland

Some of the McFalls 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.

McFalls 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 McFalls name:

McFalls Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Maggie McFalls, aged 27, originally from Belfast, who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "City of New York" from Liverpool & Queenstown 5
James Mc Falls, aged 24, originally from Liverpool, who arrived in New York in 1897 aboard the ship "Germanic" from Liverpool & Queenstown 5

McFalls Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Lance McFalls, aged 49, originally from Corrick, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 5

Contemporary Notables of the name McFalls (post 1700) +

David McFalls, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from St. Lawrence County 1st District, 1876-77
William Daniel McFalls (b. 1946), known as Blues Boy Willie, an African-American electric blues singer and harmonica player
Jennifer Yvonne McFalls (b. 1971), American gold medalist softball player at the 2000 Summer Olympics

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/
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result