Find out how popular the last name McFarland is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named McFarland.

McFarland, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the McFarland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McFarland in America

McFarland is the 835th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McFarland surname appeared 41,300 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 14 people would have the surname McFarland.

We can also compare 2010 data for McFarland to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McFarland

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname McFarland.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for McFarland was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of McFarland has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name McFarland was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of McFarland, please contact us.

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