Surname MacFearson - Meaning and Origin
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MacFearson: What does the surname MacFearson mean?
The last name MacFearson is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name MacPhearson, which stands for ‘Son of the Parson.’ The ‘Mac’ prefix means 'son of' in Gaelic, hence fulfilling the idea of lineage or descendants in patronymic surnames. The term ‘Parson’ was used in the Middle Ages to denote a someone in charge of a parish, often a priest. Therefore, MacFearson generally indicates a family line descending from a religious cleric or a Parson in the region. Variations in spelling, such as McPherson, McFerson and M'Ferson, are common depending on phonetic translations over the years and regions. This surname is common in areas influenced by Scottish traditions and history. The MacPherson clan, an historic Scottish clan, carries this surname as well. It's important to note that not all surnames can be taken literally since over time, roles and names might be handed down even if the profession wasn't continued by descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisMacFearson: Where does the name MacFearson come from?
The surname MacFearson has its roots in Scotland, originating from the Gaelic 'Mac a' Phearsoin' which means "son of the parson". The surname was relatively common in the Badenoch area of Scotland due to the influence of clan MacPherson, a part of the wider confederation of clan Chattan.
The variant spelling form as "MacFearson" is not typical, with "MacPherson" or "McPherson" being more commonly used. However, spelling variations were quite common, even among members of the same family, due to the translation from Gaelic to English.
The surname is more widespread now due to various historical migration waves. Today, the surname "MacPherson" or its variant forms like "MacFearson" are found globally due to the Scottish diaspora, however, it is still more common in Scotland and nations with significant Scottish immigrant populations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname MacFearson
The surname MacFearson is more commonly spelled as MacPherson, McPherson, or Macpherson, which belongs to Scottish Gaelic origin. Another variant spelling is M'Pherson, and the Irish forms of the name include Mac Phearsoin and Mac a' Phearsoin.
This surname is derived from the Gaelic term "Mac a' Phearsoin," which means "son of the parson." The parson referred to here is Muriache Parson, from whom the Chiefs of the Clan are descended.
Sometimes, the surname can be to Anglicised as the son of Parsons, Parsonson, or simply Persons. The surname could also be shortened to Pearson, Person or even Pears.
The Clan Macpherson is part of the Chattan Confederation (Clan Chattan), so sometimes the surname could be identified as Chattan or variations thereof. The Latin version of the name used in older documents is MacPhersumi.
In some cases, it's possible that the name has been entirely anglicized to something unrecognizable from the original Gaelic. Various spelling of these surnames can occur due to translations between Gaelic and English, and phonetic spelling by those taking down the name.
It is important to remember that the different spellings could link to different familial lines, and in some cases, may not have a connection at all.
Famous people with the name MacFearson
- John MacFarlane: Scottish footballer who played for Motherwell F.C.
- Kenneth Macfarlane: Scottish soldier who fought in The Battle of Auldearn during the 17th-century British civil wars
- Graham Macfarlane: English writer, editor, and publisher
- Gordon McFarlane: Scottish rugby union international
- Lila Mae Macfarlane: Canadian physician and the first female professor in the Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto
- Daniel Macfarlane: Northern Irish professional footballer
- Aziz Macfarlane: Gambian-English actor
- Miles Macfarlane: British actor, best known for his role in the TV series Blood.
- William Macfarlane: American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Luke Macfarlane: Canadian actor and musician