Map of Scotland showing where the Mcfarland arms are recorded
The Mcfarland arms were recorded in Dumbarton, c. 1780.
Dumbartonshire sat where the Clyde meets the Highlands, guarded by a royal castle. Families held land in return for service, and service in arms brought a shield with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in Scotland when the Mcfarland arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dumbarton.
Origin & History of the Mcfarland Family in Scotland
The name McFarland is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Pharlain, which translates to son of Parlan. The root of this name is linked to Bartholomew, a saint whose name was adapted into the Gaelic language over many centuries. By the year 1780, members of the McFarland family were well-established in the town of Dumbarton, Scotland. This location was historically significant because it served as a major center for trade and shipbuilding along the River Clyde. Living in a bustling port town suggests that early family members were likely involved in the maritime industry or local commerce that defined the region during the eighteenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Scottish Lowlands, contributing to the local community through their work and daily life in this historic riverside settlement.
Mcfarland Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mac Pharlain
Son of Bartholomew
This name
McfarlandA Scottish Gaelic patronymic surname signifying descent from a person named Bartholomew.
also spelled
McFarlane
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Dumbarton Parish Registers, 1780
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
