Surname McFarrel - Meaning and Origin
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McFarrel: What does the surname McFarrel mean?
The surname McFarrel is of Irish and Scottish origin and it's a variant form of the surname McFarlane. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Pharthalain" which translates to "son of Bartholomew". The name Bartholomew itself is of Aramaic origin, "bar-Talmay", meaning "son of the one who abounds in furrows", implying a successful farmer. So, the surname McFarrel can mean ‘son of a successful farmer’. However, last names have evolved over centuries and may not necessarily reflect their literal meanings today. Usage of the name can be found in regions of Scotland and Northern Ireland, reflecting the historical Celtic connections between these areas.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFarrel: Where does the name McFarrel come from?
The surname McFarrel is derived from the Irish Gaelic language. The prefix "Mc" denotes "son of," indicating a patronymic origin of the name. The name McFarrel can be traced back to the Irish name "Fearghal," which translates to "man of valor." Therefore, McFarrel can be translated as "son of the valorous man." Various spellings such as McFarrell, MacFarrel, and others emerged due to a combination of linguistic evolution and Anglicization of Irish names over time.
Today, the surname McFarrel and its variants are found widely dispersed across English-speaking nations due to historical Irish diaspora. It can be encountered in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries. However, it is pertinent to note that the distribution of the name McFarrel is not necessarily dense in these regions, considering the name isn’t among the commonly occurring surnames. The alteration of the surname over the years could be a factor in the difficulty of precisely determining its current commonality.
Variations of the surname McFarrel
The surname McFarrel is of Irish origin and has several alternatives and spelling variants. The surname is often written as McFarrell or McFarlane, which are both anglicized forms of the Gaelic "Mac Pharlain," meaning "son of Parlan." Other variations include McFarlin, McFarling, McFerlan, and McFerlin.
These different spellings arose largely due to the inconsistency of rules for spelling in Gaelic, as well as anglicization by non-Irish speakers. On many occasions, it was found that the same one name was recorded differently, which explains why a multitude of spelling variations for this family name exist today.
It is also important to note that the prefix 'Mac' in the name can be replaced with 'Mc' or can sometimes even be omitted, leading to more variations like Farrel or Farrelly.
Moreover, surnames of the same origin or with similar meanings might include O'Farrell, Farrell, Parlan, and Parlaine.
However, researching family history and lineage might help in ensuring the most correct spelling variant for an individual or specific family line.
Famous people with the name McFarrel
- Macaulay Culkin: Actor famous for the iconic movie Home Alone;
- Chris McFarland: Action movie writer and actor, founder of production company The Convoy Group;
- Nicole McFarland: Author, Screenwriter, and former Death Row Inmate;
- Aidan McFarland: Mixed Martial Arts Fighter;
- Morgan McFarland: Actress and Director;
- Martin McFarland: Politician from North Carolina;
- Joan McFarland: World War II Nurse;
- Gordon McFarland: Artist and Professor;
- Dave McFarland: Author and Trainer in Web Development;
- James E. McFarland: World War II Drone Pilot and Medal of Honor Recipient.