McFall
A Scottish and Irish surname that usually means “son of Paul,” though some families may come from an older Gaelic nickname or saint-name form.
The #4,664 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 40,614 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McFall is generally treated as a Gaelic patronymic, from Mac meaning “son of” plus a form of Paul. In Irish and Scottish records the name is often grouped with MacPhail, MacPaul, and related spellings, all pointing back to Paul as the underlying personal name. Some older Gaelic forms may also reflect a nickname or saintly name shape rather than the modern English surname spelling.
History
The surname appears in both Irish and Scottish naming traditions, and modern spellings have varied between MacFall and McFall. The form is especially associated with Gaelic-speaking regions where Mac- surnames were later anglicized into shorter English spellings. In North America it is found mainly in descendants of Irish and Scottish immigrants.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century surname collectors often grouped McFall with a whole cluster of similar Gaelic names, which is why old references may link it to several spellings at once.
From the historical record
“Cussane, etc. rtlAC pAil, MacFall, MacFalls. MacVail, Vail. TTlAC pAtltAlAm, rtlAC t!)A|\tA- lAin, thac pA|ttAiAin, rriAc”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames