McPartland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McPartland

What does the name McPartland mean?

McPartland comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the personal name Parlan, which is the Gaelic equivalent of Bartholomew. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Pharlain. 1

McPartland Coat of Arms Creation

In 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 McPartland family

The surname McPartland 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 McPartland family

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

McPartland Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McPartland has appeared as MacFarlane, MacFarlain, MacFarlan, MacFarland, MacParlan, MacParland, MacPartland, MacPartlin, MacPharlane, MacPharlin, MacPharlan and many more.

Early Notables of the McPartland 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. 4Duncan MacFarlane (1771-1857), principal of Glasgow University, son of Duncan Macfarlane...
Another 197 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McPartland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McPartland family to Ireland

Some of the McPartland 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.

McPartland 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 McPartland or a variant listed above:

McPartland Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank McPartland, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Carmania" from Liverpool, England 5
John McPartland, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Carmania" from Liverpool, England 5
Sarah Mc Partland, aged 34, originally from Jersey, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal, Canal Zone 5
Frank McPartland, originally from Liverpool, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Carmania" from Liverpool, England 5
Catharine McPartland, aged 46, originally from Drumkeerin, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Liverpool, England 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McPartland (post 1700) +

Richard "Dick" McPartland (1905-1957), American musician, an early member of the Austin High School Gang which helped establish Chicago-style jazz in the 1920s, older brother of Jimmy McPartland
James Dugald "Jimmy" McPartland (1907-1991), American cornetist and one of the originators of Chicago Jazz, he worked with Eddie Condon, Art Hodes, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Tommy Dorsey and many more
Stephen McPartland (b. 1976), English politician, Member of Parliament for Stevenage (2010-)
Monsignor Michael Bernard McPartland (b. 1939), English Roman Catholic priest, Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands and Ecclesiastic Superior of St. Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha (2002-2016)
Margaret Marian McPartland OBE (1918-2013), née Turner, English-born Grammy Award winning jazz pianist, composer, and writer, host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on National Public Radio (1978-2011), wife of Jimmy McPartland

McPartland 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."

Citations +

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