The Macfarlane surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,605 people carried this name — #7,243 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 64,100 people counted. That is up 4% from 4,437 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Macfarlane surname

Variant spelling of McFarlane.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «MacFarlane» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 23 people named Macfarlane.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 3 départements, most often Bouches-du-Rhône.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Bouches-du-Rhône 8
Alpes-Maritimes 3
French Guiana 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Scotland’s registers today

Macfarlane was recorded 113 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 217th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 195. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Macfarlane in American newspapers,
1886–1926.

Newspaper page from Juniata Sentinel And Republican carrying the name Macfarlane
Juniata Sentinel And Republican 1886-02-10
Newspaper page from The Lakeland Evening Telegram carrying the name Macfarlane
The Lakeland Evening Telegram 1916-03-21
Newspaper page from The Midland Journal carrying the name Macfarlane
The Midland Journal 1926-12-03

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 49,816 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Macfarlane in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2020s.

57,575 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Macfarlane. The most, 9,459, date from the 1900s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 18,514
New South Wales 15,161
Victoria 8,798
South Australia 5,177
Tasmania 5,169
Western Australia 4,342
ACT (Canberra) 311
Northern Territory 44

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Macfarlane.

Who carried it

People named Macfarlane,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Angus Macfarlane d. 2024 · psychologist
  • William Macfarlane d. 1846 · naval officer
  • James Lyndon Macfarlane d. 1962
  • James Ferrier Macfarlane d. 1986
  • William D. Macfarlane d. 1838
  • Fanny Worswick Robson d. 1953

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Macfarlane,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States859 records

859 records of the Macfarlane name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 323
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 178
  • Other U.S. records 358
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert G. MacFarlane

    Born 1917 in Minnesota. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Macarthur San Pedro, California; machinist. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1992, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William MacFarlane

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Furnessia from Glasgow and Londonderry, aged 21; riveter. From Glasgow, Scotland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William Joseph MacFarlane

    Born 1948; from South Ozone Park, New York. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 859 records for Macfarlane in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,362 records

1,362 records of the Macfarlane name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 869
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 204
  • Other Australian records 289
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Holdsworth MacFarlane

    Died 1915 in New¿norfolk, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1915.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaret MacFarlane

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Martin Luther, aged 10; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record George MacFarlane

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Marquis of Huntley, arriving 1826; certificate of freedom 1832.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 1,362 records for Macfarlane in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada586 records

586 records of the Macfarlane name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 408
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 59
  • Other Canadian records 119
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John MacFarlane

    Came to Ontario in 1868 aboard the Peruvian, landing at Portland, bound for Dundas, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alice Gertrude MacFarlane

    Buried in 1967 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 53.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Hugh Simon MacFarlane

    Died 1946 in s w Margaree, Inverness, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 586 records for Macfarlane in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom205 records

205 records of the Macfarlane name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 175
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 18
  • Other British records 12
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Charles MacFarlane

    Born 1890 at Lossiemouth; soldier. Died 1915. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Catherine MacFarlane

    Died 1929, aged 57; buried at Bannockburn Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margt MacFarlane

    Buried in 1805 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 32.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 205 records for Macfarlane in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands78 records

78 records of the Macfarlane name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 48
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 29
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Edward Mac Farlane

    Born 1884 in Rotterdam. Married in 1915 in Rotterdam. Died 1937 in Rotterdam, aged 52.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Thomas Edward MacFarlane

    Born 1920 in Rotterdam. Married in 1944 in Gouda.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Streekarchief Midden-Holland (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Thomas MacFarlane

    Born 1885 in Rotterdam. Died 1936 in Rotterdam, aged 50.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 78 records for Macfarlane in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

New Zealand77 records

77 records of the Macfarlane name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elsie Annie MacFarlane

    Died 1985, aged 92; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie MacFarlane

    Died 1897, aged 21; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John MacFarlane

    Died 1940, aged 84; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 77 records for Macfarlane in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France20 records

20 records of the Macfarlane name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Andre MacFarlane

    Born 1907 in Parois; died 1995 in Saint-Mihiel (Meuse).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Marie Elisabeth MacFarlane

    Born 1929 in Verdun (Meuse); died 1986 in Metz (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Camille Leon MacFarlane

    Born 1896 in Verdun (Meuse); died 1971 in Montigny-lès-Metz (Moselle).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 20 records for Macfarlane in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Macfarlane.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Macfarlane is.
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Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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