Mcfarquhar
An Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Phàrlain referring to the descendant or son of Pàrlan.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Mcfarquhar. That puts it at #129,047 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mcfarquhar surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#129,047
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
132
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 132 bearers of the surname Mcfarquhar in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 129047th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcfarquhar, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (5.3%).
Origin
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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mcfarquhar
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcfarquhar, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (5.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mcfarquhar bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mcfarquhar surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American84.8%
- Hispanic or Latino5.3%
- Two or more races5.3%
- White4.5%
FAQ
Mcfarquhar surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mcfarquhar?
The surname Mcfarquhar holds position #129,047 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mcfarquhar surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mcfarquhar, the largest self-reported group is Black at 84.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (5.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.