NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcfarquhar

An Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Phàrlain referring to the descendant or son of Pàrlan.

In the 1881 census there were 130 people recorded with the Mcfarquhar surname, ranking it #16,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 98, ranked #31,470, down from #16,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barvas and Carloway, Killearnan and Aberdeen and Old Machar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Redbridge and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcfarquhar is 148 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.6%.

1881 census count

130

Ranked #16,911

Modern count

98

2016, ranked #31,470

Peak year

1891

148 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 1901

Key insights

  • Mcfarquhar had 130 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016, ranked #31,470.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mcfarquhar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcfarquhar surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcfarquhar 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 130 #16,911
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 13 #32,172
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 101 #27,555
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 82 #30,468
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 77 #31,510
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 76 #32,279
2009 modern 85 #31,717
2010 modern 91 #31,497
2011 modern 91 #31,442
2012 modern 88 #32,064
2013 modern 94 #31,656
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 98 #31,470

Geography

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Where Mcfarquhars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barvas and Carloway, Killearnan, Aberdeen and Old Machar, Urquart and Logie Wester and Knockbain. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Redbridge, South Tyneside, Manchester and Tameside. 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 Barvas and Carloway Ross And Cromarty
2 Killearnan Ross And Cromarty
3 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
4 Urquart and Logie Wester Ross And Cromarty
5 Knockbain Ross And Cromarty

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 023 Cheshire East
2 Redbridge 006 Redbridge
3 South Tyneside 023 South Tyneside
4 Manchester 018 Manchester
5 Tameside 012 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcfarquhar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcfarquhar

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Mcfarquhar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mcfarquhar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Mcfarquhar is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcfarquhar 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

Mcfarquhar falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcfarquhar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcfarquhar

The surname McFarquhar has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son of" and "Fearchair," which is a personal name derived from the Gaelic word "fear" meaning "man" and the root "car" meaning "beloved" or "dear one." Thus, the name McFarquhar essentially means "son of the beloved man."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "Gillecrist McFerquhar de Abyrnythy" refers to a McFarquhar from the town of Abernethy.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records and charters, such as the Exchequer Rolls of 1365, which mention a "Gilcrist McFarquar" from Fife. The spelling variations during this period included McFarquhar, McFerquhar, and McFerchar.

One notable McFarquhar in Scottish history was Sir John McFarquhar, a prominent landowner and military commander who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He was rewarded for his loyalty to King Robert the Bruce with lands in Aberdeenshire.

Another significant figure was Alexander McFarquhar (1680-1756), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow from 1733 until his death. He was a highly respected scholar and author of several religious works.

In the 18th century, the McFarquhars were particularly concentrated in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perthshire. One notable individual from this time was James McFarquhar (1736-1815), a successful merchant and landowner who acquired substantial estates in Aberdeenshire.

As the McFarquhars spread throughout Scotland and beyond, the name underwent various spelling variations, including McFarquhar, McFarquher, McFarquair, and McFarquar. While the surname originated in Scotland, it has since been carried to other parts of the world by Scottish emigrants and their descendants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcfarquhar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcfarquhar 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Mcfarquhars recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 1 Mcfarquhars recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 1 434.78x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Wm. 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 Mcfarquhar households.

Occupation Count
Surgeon Veterinary 1

FAQ

Mcfarquhar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcfarquhar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 130 people were recorded with the Mcfarquhar surname. That placed it at #16,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcfarquhar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 98 in 2016. That gives Mcfarquhar a modern rank of #31,470.

What does the Mcfarquhar surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Phàrlain referring to the descendant or son of Pàrlan.

What does the Mcfarquhar map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcfarquhar 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.