MacPherson Surname

15,883rd
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 35,109 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
Canada
Highest density in:
Scotland

MacPherson Surname Definition:

Gaelic Mac a' Phearsain or Mac a Phearsoin, 'son of the parson. ' in the Rook of the Dean of Lismore the name is spelled M'aphersone. Alexander Makfersan was bailie to the bishop of Aberdeen, c. 1447 (REA., I, p. 250). Bean Makimpersone witnessed a bond between William of Rose and Duncan Makintosche, captain of Clancattane, 1490 (Cawdor, p.

Read More About This Surname

MacPherson Surname Distribution Map

By incidenceBy frequencyBy rank
Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ARank (high to low)Rank (low to high)
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Canada10,1681:3,624470
United States7,8771:46,0155,605
Scotland5,1301:1,044163
Australia4,6031:5,865861
England4,0361:13,8052,046
New Zealand1,3161:3,441529
South Africa8371:64,7288,140
Wales1261:24,5602,581
Nigeria1141:1,553,88458,636
Peru981:324,32811,673
Northern Ireland661:27,9553,011
Spain561:834,85833,799
Thailand511:1,385,066192,885
Dominican Republic461:226,8038,136
Netherlands441:383,79941,363
Chile361:489,34612,617
Mexico311:4,004,07126,265
Ireland301:156,9657,012
Singapore301:183,5907,666
France261:2,554,720189,486
Argentina261:1,643,97788,124
Bermuda241:2,720427
Germany221:3,659,339158,771
Jamaica191:151,0505,132
Malaysia191:1,552,32864,490
Norway191:270,64728,127
Belgium171:676,27358,718
Brazil161:13,379,646256,605
Isle of Man141:6,1301,329
Sweden131:757,44356,422
Hong Kong121:611,2903,500
Qatar121:196,50026,891
China121:113,943,4645,994
Switzerland111:746,62949,719
Philippines91:11,248,691221,039
Zimbabwe91:1,715,36084,476
Angola91:2,998,8024,903
Hungary91:1,090,69749,203
Malawi91:1,902,12319,532
Russia81:18,015,382436,635
Jersey71:14,1722,872
Indonesia61:22,041,532555,748
Japan61:21,307,38248,838
India41:191,766,3461,073,940
Brunei41:104,6832,048
Trinidad and Tobago41:340,99412,383
Togo41:1,811,9428,122
Bahrain41:337,1526,054
Egypt41:22,983,93862,368
Costa Rica31:1,593,3568,177
Turkey31:25,940,474162,557
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
Liberia21:2,204,26840,131
United Arab Emirates21:4,581,13693,443
Venezuela21:15,102,03869,873
Cameroon21:10,384,534165,830
Croatia11:4,228,60499,289
Antigua and Barbuda11:99,1712,137
Solomon Islands11:580,02922,243
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Austria11:8,515,435118,036
Grenada11:108,5351,793
Cook Islands11:18,1791,485
Taiwan11:23,444,74693,622
Tanzania11:52,941,613123,716
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Iraq11:35,021,65431,813
Lesotho11:2,032,55823,402
Turks and Caicos Islands11:34,329862
Bulgaria11:6,978,90586,260
Cayman Islands11:63,8932,384
Vanuatu11:263,2762,086
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Liechtenstein11:38,3781,726
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Equatorial Guinea11:1,135,674984
Belize11:355,4743,977
Laos11:6,588,3231,961
Ecuador11:15,905,84650,210
East Timor11:1,215,928507
Belarus11:9,501,059159,228
Denmark11:5,644,71593,155
Pakistan11:178,643,885213,220
Serbia11:7,144,94838,459
Papua New Guinea11:8,153,717181,784
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Czechia11:10,633,469206,023
Poland11:38,008,749231,653
Portugal11:10,418,24125,048
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Saint Barthelemy11:9,614134
Saudi Arabia11:30,855,81763,028
Italy11:61,156,688199,583
Show All Nations
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland731:60,6834,748
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States521:965,74457,486

MacPherson (1,544) may also be a first name.

MacPherson Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

Gaelic Mac a' Phearsain or Mac a Phearsoin, 'son of the parson. ' in the Rook of the Dean of Lismore the name is spelled M'aphersone. Alexander Makfersan was bailie to the bishop of Aberdeen, c. 1447 (REA., I, p. 250). Bean Makimpersone witnessed a bond between William of Rose and Duncan Makintosche, captain of Clancattane, 1490 (Cawdor, p. 74), and in the same year, as Beane Makynparsone, he witnessed an indenture between Doncan Makyntosche and Huchone the Rois, baron of Kylraok (Rose, p. 153). Payment was made to David Makfassane "for twa gunnis of matel," 1538 (ALHT., VII, p. 25), Donald Makphersone, prior of Strathphillane appears as witness, 1585 (BBT., p. 233,234), and the Badenoch Makfersones made a bond of manrent with the earl of Huntly, 1591 (SCM., IV, p. 246). Duncan Dow M' a Persoun in Kinchraikin was a Glenerquhay vassal, 1638 (BBT., p. 403). A small sept of Campbells in the neighborhood of Glassery, Argyllshire, in the fourteenth and fifteenth century bore the name Macpherson. Donaldus M'Inpersuyn was one of a number cited in 1355 to give evidence regarding the lands of Glassre (HP., II, p. 139). As Donald McMcpersun he williessed a charter by John Campbell, lord of Ardsceodanich, undated, but about 1355 (ibid., p. 141). Another Donald Macpherson, evidently of the same family, was rector of St. Columba, Glassrie, 1420, "showing that the name was hot a mere patronymic. ' Donald McKinfarsoun was tenant of Teris Balcony, 1531, and Neill McForsoun, tenant in Arrefeill, Islay, 1541 (ER., XVII, p. 620,640, 668). Malcolm Makfersoun obtained the heritage of Kerrytonlia in Bute, 1506 (Hewison, II, p. 173). "It is known that a number of families of the Badenoch Macphersons settled in the Hebrides; and it is a modern mistake to suppose that nearly all who bear the name in those parts are really Murdochsons, who have no connection with 'Clann Mhuirich bho Bhinnein'" (Sinton, Poetry of Badenoch, p. 84). Malcolm McPhersone was "parsoune of Herreis," 1556 (Coll., p. 146). Tormot M'Farsane, vicar of Snizort, 1526. Dun: mc appersone and Gilbert mc persone ere in Clachandysart, 1692 (Commons, p. 30). McEpersoun 1559, Makfarson 1481, M'Ferson 1683, McFersoune 1662, Makferssoun 1530, M'Inphersonis (pl. ) 1594, M'Inferson 1611, NcKherson (fem. ) 1682, McKilferson 1506, Mackpirson 1646, Mackpharsone 1637; McPerson McPhersen.

— The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

“Son of the Parson” in Gaelic.

— South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(Scottish) The son of the parson.

— Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Kenneth Macpherson, who lived temp. Alex. III., was eldest son of Ewan, second son of Murdoch, Parson of Kingussie in Inverness-shire, and Captain of the clan Chattan. James Macpherson, the translator of Ossian, was born at Kingussie.

— Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

The son of Pherson. The family are descended from Gille Chattan More, Chief of Clan Chattan, temp. Malcolm Canmore.

— The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)
DNA test information
Display Statistics on:

MacPherson Demographics

Average Male MacPherson Height

176.87 cm

Average male height (US):
175.3 cm
Sample size: 315 (2014)

Average Female MacPherson Height

160 cm

Average female height (US):
161.5 cm
Sample size: 30 (2014)

Sample is predominantly from Anglosphere countries

View the tallest/shortest surnames in the world

MacPherson Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name MacPherson Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname MacPherson (Marathi: मक्फेस) is found most in Canada. It can occur as a variant:. For other possible spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name MacPherson? popularity and diffusion

It is the 15,883rd most numerous last name worldwide. It is borne by approximately 1 in 207,569 people. MacPherson occurs mostly in The Americas, where 50 percent of MacPherson reside; 50 percent reside in North America and 49 percent reside in Anglo-North America. It is also the 197,323rd most widely held first name worldwide It is held by 1,544 people.

This surname is most widespread in Canada, where it is held by 10,168 people, or 1 in 3,624. In Canada MacPherson is most common in: Ontario, where 37 percent reside, Nova Scotia, where 18 percent reside and British Columbia, where 15 percent reside. Outside of Canada MacPherson exists in 94 countries. It also occurs in The United States, where 22 percent reside and Scotland, where 15 percent reside.

MacPherson Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of MacPherson has changed over time. In The United States the number of people carrying the MacPherson last name grew 15,148 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in Ireland it contracted 59 percent between 1901 and 2014.

MacPherson Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the last name is principally Presbyterian (100%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the MacPherson last name are 4.27% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 51.04% registered to vote for the party.

The amount MacPherson earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 25.1% more than the national average, earning 432,943 kr per year; in Peru they earn 65.58% more than the national average, earning S/. 32,098 per year; in South Africa they earn 106.23% more than the national average, earning R 490,080 per year; in United States they earn 13.39% more than the national average, earning $48,925 USD per year and in Canada they earn 0.45% more than the national average, earning $49,907 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

Incidence (high to low)Incidence (low to high)Alphabetic A-ZAlphabetic Z-ASimilarity (high to low)Similarity (low to high)Prevalent jurisdiction A-ZPrevalent jurisdiction Z-A
SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
McPherson9571,507/
MacPhearson9562/
MacPerson9523/
MacHpherson9517/
MacPheerson952/
Macphersond951/
Mackpherson951/
MacPhersson951/
MacPherrson951/
Macpearson9020/
MacKperson904/
MacPhersom902/
MacPhersen902/
MacPhersan901/
McHpherson901/
McPhershon901/
MacPehrson901/
Macfherson901/
MacHperson901/
McPerson8940/
Macferson8410/
Macperzon841/
McFherson841/
Mackferson801/
MacFearson801/
McFerson78265/
McParson780/
Makferson7422/
Show All Similar Surnames

MacPherson Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
MacPherson in the Marathi language
मक्फेसmakphesa-

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to MacPherson
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis