The Macpherson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,579 people carried this name — #6,140 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 52,900 people counted. That is up 2% from 5,464 in 2000.

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Where the name comes from

The origin of the Macpherson surname

Variant spelling of McPherson.

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

In Switzerland’s population statistics

27 people named Macpherson live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

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

Where they live today

Bern 12
Vaud 8
Schwyz 4
Geneva 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Scotland, 1880s

McPherson and Macpherson, counted together, were 24 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 417. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Inverness-shire and adjacent counties.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 592 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Macpherson was recorded 116 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 211th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 223. 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 the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Macpherson was counted together with McPherson: 121 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 610 people lived in those households, 5 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McPherson, McFarshen, McFarshon, McFarson, MacFashion, Macfason, McFawson, McFercin, McFershion, McFersin, McFersion, Mcfersion, McFerson, Mcferson, McPharson, Macpherson. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

North Carolina 33
Pennsylvania 21
Maryland 18
South Carolina 15
Virginia 11
New York 10
New Hampshire 6
Massachusetts 4
Maine 1
Vermont 1
Connecticut 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 253 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Macpherson in American newspapers,
1906–1918.

Newspaper page from The Montgomery Advertiser carrying the name Macpherson
The Montgomery Advertiser 1906-05-26
Newspaper page from The Chicago Citizen carrying the name Macpherson
The Chicago Citizen 1918-09-11
Newspaper page from The Beaver Herald carrying the name Macpherson
The Beaver Herald 1906-09-20

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 943 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Macpherson in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

67,863 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Macpherson. The most, 9,798, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 21,132
Victoria 20,957
Queensland 13,820
Western Australia 6,467
South Australia 3,199
Tasmania 1,918
ACT (Canberra) 206
Northern Territory 61

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

Who carried it

People named Macpherson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Macpherson
    John Macpherson d. 1775
  • William Grant Macpherson d. 1916 · physician
  • Elspeth Macpherson d. 2011
  • John Macpherson d. 1799
  • William Macpherson d. 1812
  • Mary Macpherson d. 1805

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Macpherson,
in the records of 8 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 States1,155 records

1,155 records of the Macpherson name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 463
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 245
  • Other U.S. records 447
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Charles MacPherson

    Born 1910 in Canada. Enlisted 1943 at Portland, Oregon; filling station attendant. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1971, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert H. MacPherson

    Born 1907 in Canada. Enlisted 1943 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; elevator operator. U.S. Army veteran; died 1974, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record William C. MacPherson

    Born 1923 in California. Enlisted 1943 at Los Angeles; machine shop worker from Los Angeles County. 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)

Showing 3 of 1,155 records for Macpherson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · 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). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Canada1,612 records

1,612 records of the Macpherson name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 1,396
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 64
  • Other Canadian records 152
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Joseph MacPherson

    Came to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Memphis, bound for Oakville, Ontario; Irish.

    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 Catherine MacPherson

    Died 1950, aged 86; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Shirley Bernadette MacPherson

    Died 1970 in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, aged 22.

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

Showing 3 of 1,612 records for Macpherson in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · 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. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. 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).

Australia1,160 records

1,160 records of the Macpherson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 492
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 312
  • Other Australian records 356
  1. 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 Nelson T. MacPherson

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Albion, arriving 1827; certificate of freedom 1840.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Donald MacPherson

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Abel Gower, aged 48; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record A.s.m MacPherson

    Enlisted in 1916. Honoured on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

    City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU)

Showing 3 of 1,160 records for Macpherson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands431 records

431 records of the Macpherson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 223
  • Dutch population registers 174
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 34
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Cornelis Leonardus MacPherson

    Married in 1912 in Rotterdam. Died 1963 in Rotterdam, aged 74.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Helena Bresetta Adriana MacPherson

    Born 1843 in 's-Hertogenbosch. Died 1912 in Rotterdam, aged 69.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Willem MacPherson

    Married in 1814 in Fijnaart en Heijningen. Died 1858 in Willemstad.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 431 records for Macpherson 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).

United Kingdom132 records

132 records of the Macpherson name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 58
  • Stirling Council burial records 58
  • Other British records 16
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Peter MacPherson

    Born 1879 at Ardgye; road worker. Served in the First World War. 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 Elizabeth MacPherson

    Died 1899, aged 74; buried at Logie 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 Rachel MacPherson

    Buried in 1834 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 72.

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

Showing 3 of 132 records for Macpherson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · 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. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). 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).

New Zealand24 records

24 records of the Macpherson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 22
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Monica Winifred MacPherson

    Died 1986, aged 73; 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 Donald Campbell MacPherson

    Died 1996; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Rebecca MacPherson

    Died 1931, aged 73; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Macpherson in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District 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).

France5 records

5 records of the Macpherson 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 Lilian MacPherson

    Born 1918 in Great Britain; died 1998 in Harfleur (Seine-Maritime).

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

    Born 1960 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Bagnolet (Seine-Saint-Denis).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Macpherson 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).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Macpherson name in Belgium Belgian population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Maria Agnes Euphrasie MacPherson

    In the population register of Edinbourg Ecosse; nun, born 1869 in Edinbourg Ecosse.

    Open Archives, Erfgoedcel Denderland (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Macpherson.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Macpherson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Macpherson is.
A volume says what happened to it.

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.

See the Macpherson volume
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