| ![Show Contents]() McFarlan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
Etymology of McFarlanWhat does the name McFarlan mean? On the western coast of Scotland and on the Hebrides islands the McFarlan family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Parlan, which is the Gaelic equivalent of Bartholomew. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Pharlain. 1 McFarlan Coat of Arms CreationIn clan fights the MacFarlanes were generally on the losing side, but at the battle of Langside they were instrumental in turning the tide of battle at the crucial moment. It is told that MacFarlane came up with three hundred of his men, and, falling on the flank of the Queen's army, threw them into disorder, and thus contributed to the deciding of the fortunes of the day. The MacFarlanes captured three of Queen Mary's standards in the fray. The chief's reward was not a very tangible one, and is scarcely creditable to the Regent Moray, being merely a crest which flattered his vanity, a demi-savage holding in his right hand a sheaf of arrows and pointing with his left to an imperial crown. The motto borne upon a scroll above the head of the savage is " This I'll defend." 2 Early Origins of the McFarlan familyThe surname McFarlan 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 was 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. 3 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 McFarlan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McFarlan 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 McFarlan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McFarlan Spelling VariationsIn various documents McFarlan has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. MacFarlane, MacFarlain, MacFarlan, MacFarland, MacParlan, MacParland, MacPartland, MacPartlin, MacPharlane, MacPharlin, MacPharlan and many more. Early Notables of the McFarlan familyWalter 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. 4
Duncan MacFarlane (1771-1857), principal of Glasgow University, son of Duncan Macfarlane, minister of Drymen, Stirlingshire, was born at Auchingray...
Another 197 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McFarlan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the McFarlan family to IrelandSome of the McFarlan 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.
| McFarlan migration to the United States | + |
Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name McFarlan or a variant listed above:
McFarlan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Ann McFarlan, aged 17, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 5
- Peter McFarlan, aged 19, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 5
McFarlan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John McFarlan, who landed in New York in 1809 5
- Samuel McFarlan, who arrived in America in 1810 5
- Andrew McFarlan, aged 47, who landed in New York in 1812 5
- Archibald McFarlan, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 5
- Michael McFarlan, aged 28, who arrived in Maryland in 1813 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| McFarlan migration to Canada | + |
McFarlan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. Walter McFarlan U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name McFarlan (post 1700) | + |
- Duncan McFarlan (b. 1816), American Democratic-Republican politician, U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1805 and 1807
- W. L. McFarlan Sr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Carolina, 1936
- Robert McFarlan, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Montgomery County, 1797-98
- Patrick McFarlan, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Fulton and Hamilton counties, 1857
- James H. McFarlan, American politician, Candidate for Michigan State Attorney General, 1906; Candidate for justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1909, 1911, 1915; Candidate for Michigan State Senate 13th District, 1918
- Hudson McFarlan, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Orange County, 1826, 1838, 1847; Delegate to Whig National Convention from New York, 1839 (speaker)
- H. J. McFarlan, American politician, Candidate for University of Michigan Board of Regents, 1933; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 2nd District, 1934
- G. S. McFarlan, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Bucks County, 1879-82
- Duncan McFarlan (b. 1816), American politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons, 1792; Member of North Carolina State Senate, 1793-95, 1800, 1807-09; U.S. Representative from North Carolina at-large, 1805-07
- ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| McFarlan Motto and War Cry | + |
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: This I'll defend
War Cry: "Loch Sloy, Loch Sloy"
War Cry Description: Their gathering place was a small lake near the base of Ben Voirlich, and from it they took their war cry, "Loch Sloy, Loch Sloy," a. name which means "the lake of the host."
- 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)
- Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- 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
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