Do my American McFalls ancestors connect with MacPhails in Scotland? While I have not yet been able to answer this question, my explorations have resulted in discovering a new branch of the McFall/s family in Colorado!
Who is the one?
First a bit about my ancestry. I am descended from the pioneer settlers of the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. I come from a small town in which we joke that everyone is related to everyone else, but for us the truth is in our DNA! Arthur McFalls, my fifth great-grandfather, followed the Great Wagon Road along with many Scots-Irish immigrants from Virginia, where he was born in 1751, to the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. We speculate that his father, John McFalls, immigrated with relatives from Northern Ireland in the 1740s perhaps as part of the movement from the Scottish lowlands to the Ulster plantations in the North of Ireland in the late 1600s and early 1700s. What we know for sure is that Arthur served in the American Revolution (on both sides!), was married multiple times and therefore has lots of descendants — mostly in the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains.
My research to determine if my McFalls ancestors were part of a Scottish clan taught me that a surname being used today may be a derivation of the original Scottish name. The names of Scottish Americans and Scots Irish were often written phonetically by census takers, ministers, registers of deeds, etc. because the immigrants were illiterate. So McFalls could have been MacPhail, but descendants today also spell it McPhaul, McFaul, Mackfall and McFall.
Getting help from my extended clan family
While attending local Highland games, I found that MacPhails were a sept of Clan Cameron (septs are smaller clans that often affiliate with a larger clan). I joined Clan Cameron through their Rocky Mountain Branch in hopes of learning more. A bit later I learned that MacPhails were also one of 12 clans that were part of a unique confederation of Highland clans called Clan Chattan who came together for their mutual security. I also joined the Clan Chattan Association and began to seek out local members from the other affiliated clans to expand my search for Scottish roots.
Thanks to one of those Clan Chattan acquaintances, I met a descendant of Arthur McFalls at the Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Festival in Estes Park, Colorado, in 2019. Dan Durrant, Colorado convener for Clan Mackintosh of North America, is an all-around excellent representative not only for Clan Mackintosh but also for the Clan Chattan Association. On his clan tent, he puts up a large banner listing all the Clan Chattan associated clans, including MacPhail. This banner attracted the attention of Keelan McFall during the Long’s Peak festival. Dan was struck not only by Keelan’s last name, but also by his resemblance to me, and promptly introduced us. Side note: I help host the Clan Anderson tent at Colorado festivals as my husband is a descendant of Anderson and Ross immigrants, so Dan had to go out of his way to make sure Keelan and I met, but that’s what your Scottish clan kinfolk do for you!
Hello new cousin!
Keelan and I exchanged contact information and took pictures not knowing of our common ancestor but being struck by some similarities in our features. I immediately sent a photograph to my mother, Linda McFalls, as she is the amateur genealogy expert in our family. Within a short time, she had established that Keelan and I are fifth cousins-once removed! Arthur McFalls is Keelan’s sixth great-grandfather! Keelan had never met any McFall/s relatives outside of Colorado but had been told by his grandmother that the family had connections to the Great Smoky Mountains.
While my search for a direct connection from the American McFalls to the Scottish MacPhails continues, I am happy to have more relatives to help with the search thanks to my extended clan family!
9 Comments
I was born and currently live in Sevier County Tn.
Arthur McFalls is my 4x great grandfather on my mothers side.
Arthur Mcfalls- Alfred Burton Mcfalls- George W Mcfalls-
John W Mcfalls- Juanita Mcfalls- Josephine Loveday- me!
Hello,
I have Arthur as my 4x great grandfather on my mothers side.
I am from sevier county Tn
My maternal grandfather was Loyd Norris McFall. I was told the McFall side came from the Clan McIntosh. That we started in Scotland and then Ireland and maybe back to Scotland before coming to America. I was also led to believe our first born American was about 1623. We have people in NC, Arkansas, Mo, Ok. Who knows where else. I am from Ar but live in Ca. My DNA is on MyHeritage.com and I have research on Ancestry.com. Always interested is chatting with newly discovered kin.
Hi. Ref McFalls. My mothers side is McFaulds and through the family tree her father (born 1904 ish) was born a McFalls which in turn was McFall/Fall from his fathers side in southern Ireland – all in the coal works of the time. Many of his 9 siblings (mostly went to the USA) similaraly changed/got wrong their surnames. I have a full tree on ancestry.com starting as Ferguson Family and branching into McFaulds and follow from their.
We only just found out he wasnt an only child! That came from the Sinclare Family in Rosyln (Chapel) Scotland who in turn came from the KnightsTemplar’s…..and on and on…
Good luck with the search – it gets big!
Hi Paul,
I’m belatedly catching up on comments from Scottish American Insider website and will pass on your McFaulds/McFalls info to my mother. She has identified a group of siblings (seven, she’s thinks) who immigrated to the colonies at various times in the 1700s. But she thinks they mostly came from Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Is your tree public on Ancestry? I’d love for her to be able to look at it. Also, if you are interested and use Facebook, I’d encourage you to join our Facebook group “McFalls Ancestry Project” where we are trying to find connections between the MacPhails, McFaulds and McFalls (and all other spelling variations).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/479099646137881/members
Diana
Hi
I am researching my family history and came upon your site.. my Great Grandmother with the last name Burke came to the US on the boat from County Mayo in Ireland.
My Grandma is a Mcfall, some of my family uses the S in Mcfalls.I have always loved Ireland, named my Daughter Kathleen and drink Dewars Whie Label Scotch. I have ancestors in Tennesse as well. Our reunion is in Pigeon Forge every year. We very well may be related.✝️
Hi Carla,
If you haven’t already I’d encourage you to join our McFalls Ancestry Project group on Facebook. It’s a great place to connect with other McFalls/McFauls/McFaulds, etc. and learn more about how we are all connected through common ancestors. I am the admin for the Facebook group and will recognize your name if you request to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/479099646137881
Diana
I have McFall ancestors on my maternal side: from John McFall … several generations named John dating back to 1720 • Magherafelt, Donegal, Ireland. They don’t show a variation in the name but I’m sure it was at some point. The John of 1720 has unknown father & mother according to ancestry.com. It might have been because of that name misspell.
Linda,
If you haven’t already I’d encourage you to join our McFalls Ancestry Project group on Facebook. It’s a great place to connect with other McFalls/McFauls/McFaulds, etc. and learn more about how we are all connected through common ancestors. I am the admin for the Facebook group and will recognize your name if you request to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/479099646137881
Diana