NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcfarland

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived near or originated from a fertile grazing land.

In the 1881 census there were 338 people recorded with the Mcfarland surname, ranking it #8,962 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,042, ranked #5,595, up from #8,962 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dundonald, Loans and Symington, Merthyr Tydfil and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfarland is 1,114 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 208.3%.

1881 census count

338

Ranked #8,962

Modern count

1,042

2016, ranked #5,595

Peak year

2010

1,114 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcfarland had 338 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,962 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,042 in 2016, ranked #5,595.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 338 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mcfarland surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mcfarland surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mcfarland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcfarland over time

The 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 203 #11,865
1881 historical 338 #8,962
1891 historical 325 #10,426
1901 historical 316 #11,242
1911 historical 256 #12,688
1997 modern 943 #5,750
1998 modern 986 #5,739
1999 modern 983 #5,791
2000 modern 1,005 #5,667
2001 modern 992 #5,608
2002 modern 1,040 #5,508
2003 modern 999 #5,599
2004 modern 999 #5,607
2005 modern 959 #5,741
2006 modern 1,001 #5,563
2007 modern 1,038 #5,446
2008 modern 1,059 #5,387
2009 modern 1,090 #5,359
2010 modern 1,114 #5,375
2011 modern 1,086 #5,436
2012 modern 1,047 #5,510
2013 modern 1,052 #5,597
2014 modern 1,066 #5,561
2015 modern 1,044 #5,603
2016 modern 1,042 #5,595

Geography

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Where Mcfarlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dundonald, Loans and Symington, Merthyr Tydfil, Mansfield, Allerdale and Bexley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dundonald, Loans and Symington South Ayrshire
2 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Mansfield 010 Mansfield
4 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
5 Bexley 023 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcfarland

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mcfarland surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcfarland

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcfarland, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mcfarland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mcfarland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcfarland is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcfarland is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mcfarland falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcfarland is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcfarland, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mcfarland

The surname McFarland is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "fear lann" meaning "tenant of the land." This surname first emerged in the area around Argyll, Scotland, in the 13th century.

McFarland is a territorial name, indicating that the original bearer was a landholder or farmer. The name may have originated from a specific location, such as a farm or village, but no definitive records exist to confirm this.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname McFarland can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1296, which mention a "Gillecrist MacFherlane." This spelling variation demonstrates the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the McFarland clan played a significant role in the conflicts between the Scottish clans. Duncan McFarland, born around 1520, was a prominent figure during this period and is mentioned in various historical accounts.

Another notable McFarland was Robert McFarland (1640-1703), an Irish Presbyterian minister who was influential in the Scottish Reformation. He was known for his strong opposition to the established Church of England and his advocacy for religious freedom.

In the 18th century, several McFarlands emigrated from Scotland and Ireland to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of John McFarland, who was born in 1712 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

During the American Revolutionary War, James McFarland (1751-1835) served as a colonel in the Continental Army and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

In the 19th century, Thomas McFarland (1819-1892) was a prominent businessman and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and was involved in various industrial and financial ventures.

Throughout history, the McFarland surname has been associated with various professions, including farming, ministry, military service, and business. While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its roots remain firmly embedded in the Scottish Gaelic language and the historical significance of land ownership.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcfarland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfarland surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 18 Mcfarlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 18 3.99x
Durham 8 7.07x
Yorkshire 5 1.33x
Sussex 4 6.24x
Essex 1 1.33x
Glamorgan 1 1.51x
Middlesex 1 0.26x
Surrey 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 5 Mcfarlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.49x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 5 51.49x
Great Bolton 5 83.61x
Leeds 5 23.50x
Liverpool 5 18.24x
Selsey 4 3333.33x
Toxteth Park 4 26.18x
Heworth 3 134.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 27.89x
Battersea 1 7.14x
Bromley London 1 11.95x
Cardiff St Mary 1 27.40x
Everton 1 6.95x
Walton Le Soken 1 555.56x
West Derby 1 7.58x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcfarland surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 2
Harriet 2
Ann 1
Dora 1
Fanney 1
Hannah 1
Issabell 1
Jane 1
Nancy 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcfarland surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 4
John 3
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Albert 1
Archie 1
Charles 1
Charlie 1
David 1
George 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Jas. 1
Johnette 1
Niel 1
William 1
Willie 1

Top occupations

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 Mcfarland households.

FAQ

Mcfarland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcfarland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 338 people were recorded with the Mcfarland surname. That placed it at #8,962 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcfarland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,042 in 2016. That gives Mcfarland a modern rank of #5,595.

What does the Mcfarland surname mean?

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived near or originated from a fertile grazing land.

What does the Mcfarland map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcfarland bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.