UK surname
Scottish surname meaning "son of a freeman or prosperous farmer".
In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Mcfarlen surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #28,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Drymen and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfarlen is 101 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.7%.
1881 census count
33
Ranked #28,965
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1851
101 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcfarlen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcfarlen surname density by area, 1851 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 | 101 | #17,036 |
| 1861 | historical | 86 | #22,810 |
| 1881 | historical | 33 | #28,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 31 | #31,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 17 | #32,146 |
| 1911 | historical | 5 | #33,427 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Drymen, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Portsmouth, Portsea and Glasgow. 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 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 2 | Drymen | Stirling |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcfarlen 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 Mcfarlen, 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 Mcfarlen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcfarlen 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, Mcfarlen 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 Mcfarlen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcfarlen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname McFarlen has its origins in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Parlan" or "Parland," which may have been a personal name or a reference to a place name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as "McFarlan." This was a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England after his conquest of Scotland.
In the 14th century, the name McFarlen was associated with the lands of Arrochar in the county of Dunbartonshire, near the shores of Loch Lomond. The family was well-established in this area, and the name appears in various charters and records from that time.
A notable bearer of the name was John McFarlen (c. 1510-1584), who was a Scottish clergyman and reformer. He was a proponent of the Protestant Reformation and played a significant role in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.
Another prominent figure was Sir Walter McFarlen (1619-1677), a Scottish soldier and landowner who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. He was knighted by King Charles II in recognition of his service.
In the 18th century, the McFarlen family continued to hold lands in Dunbartonshire, and the name appears in various legal documents and property records from that period.
One notable member of the family was James McFarlen (1753-1835), a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made his fortune in the West Indies trade. He donated generously to educational and charitable causes in his later years.
Another prominent individual was Sir William McFarlen (1810-1892), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland.
Throughout history, the McFarlen surname has been subject to various spellings, including McFarlane, McFarland, and MacFarlane, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfarlen 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. Cumberland leads with 2 Mcfarlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 2 | 79.37x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 2.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beckermet St John in Cumberland leads with 2 Mcfarlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Beckermet St John | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 172.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcfarlen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 1 |
| Presilla | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcfarlen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| James | 1 |
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 Mcfarlen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Wool Weaver | 2 |
| ((Housekeeper)) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Mcfarlen surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Mcfarlen a modern rank of #37,705.
Scottish surname meaning "son of a freeman or prosperous farmer".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcfarlen 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.