This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: MacFarland, MacFarlane, McFarland, McFarlane Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/FG0.2ACIB/1073 Message Board Post: Reposted from the Genforum Scotland forum >From The Surnames of Scotland" by Dr. G.F. Black MacFarland also MacFarlan, MacFarlane, MacFarlin, MacParlan, MacParland, MacParlane, MacParlin and MacPharlain These names are derived from Old Irish MacPharlain, meaning 'son of Parlan'. Early examples are Malcolm Mcpharlane, who witnessed a charter in about 1385. Duncan, son of Malcolm Makfarlane was on the receiving end of a charter in 1395. Andrew M'Farlane became a burgess freeman of Glasgow in 1577. Nimmo's "History of Stirlingshire" relates that the ancestor of the Macfarlanes of Kirkton was George Macfarlane of Markinch, 2nd son of Andrew Macfarlane, in the reign of James V (1513-1542). George sold the lands of markinch and went to settle in the North Highlands amongst his namesakes the Clan Macfarlane, also known in Gaelic as the M'Allans or Allanach, because of their descent from Allan Macfarlane, younger son of one of the lairds of Macfarlane, who had settled in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire several centuries before. From him are descended the families of Auchorran, Balnengown, Lismurdie, etc. and also several others in Braemar and Strathspey. Robert Macfarlane (1815-1883), born in Rutherglen, was for 17 years the editor of the "Scientific American". Many other spellings are given - Makfarland and Makferlande, 1546, M'Farlen 1603, Mcfarling 1668, M'Farling 1663, Makferlan 1529, McKfarlen 1728, McFerlane 1612 and MacPharheline 1610.