The McFarlane surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 9,319 people carried this name — #3,795 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 31,600 people counted. That is up 14% from 8,160 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the McFarlane surname

Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Pharthaláin (“son of Parthalán”), probably a Gaelicized form of the personal name Bartholomew.

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

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 12 births for the McFarlane name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 500 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 5 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.

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

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 8
Leinster 4

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Scotland, 1880s

McFarlane was 48 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 208. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Stirlingshire and Perthshire.” 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. 591 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

McFarlane was recorded 171 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 125th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 274. 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, McFarlane was counted together with McFarland: 162 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 883 people lived in those households, 5.5 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: McFarland, McFarlan, Mcfarlan, Mcfarland, McFarlane, Mcfarlane, McFarlen, Mcfarlen, McFarlin, Mcfarlin, Macfarlin, McFarlind, McFarling, Mcfarling, Macfarling, McPharlen. 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

Pennsylvania 53
New York 32
North Carolina 21
Massachusetts 17
Maine 14
Virginia 8
South Carolina 6
New Hampshire 5
Vermont 4
Maryland 2

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. 252 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

McFarlane in American newspapers,
1906–1925.

Newspaper page from Evening Star carrying the name McFarlane
Evening Star 1925-04-05
Newspaper page from Manchester Democrat carrying the name McFarlane
Manchester Democrat 1915-11-03
Newspaper page from Pine Bluff Daily Graphic carrying the name McFarlane
Pine Bluff Daily Graphic 1906-01-01

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 30,367 pages in all carry the name.

In print

McFarlane in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

60,796 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss McFarlane. The most, 12,221, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 3.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 20,347
New South Wales 17,018
Victoria 12,059
Queensland 6,078
Western Australia 3,098
Tasmania 1,395
ACT (Canberra) 634
Northern Territory 48

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

Who carried it

People named McFarlane,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Mike McFarlane 1960–2023 · athletics competitor
  • Robert McFarlane 1937–2022 · military officer
  • Brendan McFarlane 1951–2025 · political activist

Wikidata (CC0).

In the public record

People named McFarlane,
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 States1,593 records

1,593 records of the McFarlane name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 639
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 372
  • Other U.S. records 582
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Duncan A. McFarlane

    Born 1912 in United Kingdom. Enlisted 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida; sales clerk. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1988, buried at Bay Pines National Cemetery, Florida.

    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 Ellie McFarlane

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Furnessia from Glasgow, aged 19; servant. From Callender, Scotland; bound for Indiana.

    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 John William McFarlane

    Born 1949; from Salt Lake City, Utah. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1968 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

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

Showing 3 of 1,593 records for McFarlane in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · 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) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). 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).

Australia3,183 records

3,183 records of the McFarlane name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,699
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 651
  • Other Australian records 833
  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 Agnes McFarlane

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Sir Robert Seppings, sailing from Woolwich in 1852. Native of Glasgow, Lanarkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1855.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Alison McFarlane

    Died 1901 in Sheffield, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1901.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Mary Ann Thompson McFarlane

    Born 1865 in Westbury, Tasmania. Married 1897 in Westbury, Tasmania, aged 32.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 3,183 records for McFarlane 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) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). 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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada696 records

696 records of the McFarlane name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 532
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 54
  • Other Canadian records 110
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary McFarlane

    Came to Ontario in 1869 aboard the Moravian, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Roy McFarlane

    Killed in 1958 at the Springhill No. 2 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Julia McFarlane

    Buried in 1981 at Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 79.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 696 records for McFarlane 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. · 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. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom495 records

495 records of the McFarlane name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 421
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 65
  • Other British records 9
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Davina McFarlane

    Buried in 1940 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 33.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record William McFarlane

    Died 1919. Named in the roll of honour (1926).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. S. McFarlane

    Royal Scots. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 495 records for McFarlane in the United Kingdom.

Counts: 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) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (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: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand93 records

93 records of the McFarlane name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 69
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 9
  • Other New Zealand records 15
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John McFarlane

    Died 1897, aged 47; buried at Sydenham 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 Eveline Vera McFarlane

    Died 1987, aged 83; buried at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (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 J. McFarlane

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 93 records for McFarlane in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands22 records

22 records of the McFarlane name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 16
  • Dutch population registers 6
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record James McFarlane

    Born 1845 in Delfshaven. Died 1846 in Delfshaven.

    Open Archives, Nationaal Archief Rijksarchief Zuid-Holland (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Isabella McFarlane

    Born 1836 in Delfshaven. Died 1920 in Delft.

    Open Archives, Nationaal Archief Rijksarchief Zuid-Holland (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Archief Delft (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John McFarlane

    Born 1838 in Delfshaven. Married in 1881 in Rotterdam. Died 1897 in Rotterdam, aged 58.

    Open Archives, Nationaal Archief Rijksarchief Zuid-Holland (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 22 records for McFarlane in the Netherlands.

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

France1 record

1 record of the McFarlane 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 George McFarlane

    Born 1928 in Vieux-Fort (Sainte-Lucie); died 1993 in Kourou (Guyane).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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 McFarlane.

When the index is not enough

This page says where McFarlane 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.

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