UK surname
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of a landowner".
In the 1881 census there were 348 people recorded with the Mcfarlan surname, ranking it #8,791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #8,791 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kirknewton, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfarlan is 683 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.9%.
1881 census count
348
Ranked #8,791
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1851
683 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcfarlan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcfarlan surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 683 | #3,804 |
| 1861 | historical | 476 | #5,476 |
| 1881 | historical | 348 | #8,791 |
| 1891 | historical | 232 | #13,429 |
| 1901 | historical | 259 | #12,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 27 | #30,437 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 43 | #33,871 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 56 | #34,084 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 61 | #34,121 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 56 | #34,601 |
| 2015 | modern | 57 | #34,519 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kirknewton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock and Muiravonside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirknewton | Edinburgh |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Greenock | Renfrew |
| 5 | Muiravonside | Stirling |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcfarlan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcfarlan, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcfarlan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcfarlan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcfarlan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcfarlan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcfarlan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCFARLAN is of Scottish origin, derived from a place name in the region of Argyll and Bute. It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being "de Ertveleyn" in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.
The name is thought to be a compound of the Gaelic words "ard" meaning "high" and "feallain" meaning "green hill" or "grassy slope". This suggests that the name likely referred to a person who lived near or owned land on a high, grassy hillside.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John McFarlane, who was a witness to a charter granted by King Robert the Bruce in 1320. Another notable figure was Sir John McFarlan, who fought alongside William Wallace during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th century.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records as "McFarlane", "McFarland", and "McFarlin". These spelling variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling and the influence of regional dialects.
A prominent family of the name was the McFarlanes of Arrochar, who were chieftains of a branch of the Clan Lorne. They held lands in the Argyll region for several centuries and played a significant role in local affairs.
Other notable individuals with the surname include:
1. John McFarlan (1639-1703), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as Principal of the University of Glasgow. 2. Walter McFarlan (1725-1800), a Scottish poet and playwright, best known for his work "The Constant Lovers". 3. Robert McFarlan (1802-1867), a Scottish-American financier and philanthropist who founded the McFarlan Trust in Philadelphia. 4. John McFarlan (1820-1885), a Scottish-American entrepreneur and industrialist who established the McFarlan Carriage Company in Connersville, Indiana. 5. James McFarlan (1832-1904), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Owen Sound, Ontario.
The surname MCFARLAN has a rich history dating back to medieval Scotland, with its origins rooted in the Gaelic language and the geography of the Argyll region. Over the centuries, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including warriors, clergy, poets, industrialists, and politicians.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfarlan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 6 Mcfarlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 6 | 25.05x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 14.74x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 4.36x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.86x |
| Somerset | 1 | 5.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 6 Mcfarlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 127.93x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Portsea | 6 | 127.93x |
| Roath | 3 | 326.09x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 56.50x |
| Frome | 1 | 222.22x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 19.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcfarlan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcfarlan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mcfarlan households.
FAQ
In 1881, 348 people were recorded with the Mcfarlan surname. That placed it at #8,791 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Mcfarlan a modern rank of #34,562.
A surname of Scottish origin meaning "son of a landowner".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcfarlan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.