McPherson is a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

surname. It is an Anglicised form of the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

''Mac a' Phearsain'' and ''Mac a Phearsoin'', meaning "son of the

parson A parson is an ordained Christian person responsible for a small area, typically a parish. The term was formerly often used for some Anglican clergy and, more rarely, for ordained ministers in some other churches. It is no longer a formal term d ...

". Notable people with the surname include:

In sports

* Adrian McPherson, American football player *

Archie McPherson (footballer) Archibald Johnston McPherson (10 February 1909 – 1969) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside left or left half, with his longest spell being with Liverpool. He was later a manager, in charge of Alloa Athletic for a decade. Career ...

, Scottish footballer * Bill McPherson (disambiguation), multiple people *

Cheryl McPherson Cheryl McPherson (born November 10, 1963) is a Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of ...

(born 1963), Canadian curler *

Dallas McPherson Dallas Lyle McPherson (born July 23, 1980) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and current minor league coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Florida Marlins, ...

, American baseball player *

Daniel McPherson Daniel McPherson (born 5 July 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League. Originally from Matong, a small town in New South Wales, McPherson played for the Swans between ...

, Australian rules footballer * David McPherson (disambiguation), multiple people *

Don McPherson Donald G. McPherson (born April 2, 1965) is a former National Football League and Canadian Football League quarterback. He spent seven seasons in the NFL and CFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Oilers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa Ro ...

, American academic and football player * Donald McPherson (figure skater), Canadian figure skater * Evan McPherson (born 1999), American football player *

James McPherson (cricketer) James McPherson (20 November 1842 – 23 August 1891) was an Australian cricketer. He played one first-class cricket match for Victoria in 1866. See also * List of Victoria first-class cricketers This is a list of Victoria first-class cri ...

, (1842–1891), Australian cricketer * John McPherson (disambiguation), multiple people *

Kristy McPherson Kristy McPherson (born May 28, 1981) is an American professional golfer, currently playing on the LPGA Tour. Early life and amateur career A native of South Carolina, McPherson was diagnosed with Still's disease at age 11, which is a form of ...

, Professional golfer on the LPGA *

Lachlan McPherson Lachlan McPherson (born 11 July 1900) was a Scottish footballer who played as a left half or inside left. Career Raised in the Springburn area of Glasgow, McPherson began his career as a teenager with Cambuslang Rangers in the Scottish junior ...

(born 1900), Scottish footballer * Robert McPherson (disambiguation), multiple people

In politics and law

Bruce McPherson Bruce A. McPherson (born January 7, 1944) is an American politician who served as the 30th California Secretary of State, California secretary of state from March 30, 2005, to January 7, 2007. He is currently a member of the Santa Cruz County Bo ...

, American politician *

Edward McPherson Edward McPherson (July 31, 1830 – December 14, 1895) was an American newspaper editor and politician who served two terms in the United States House of Representatives, as well as multiple terms as the Clerk of the House of Representatives ...

, American politician *

Ewan McPherson Ewan Alexander McPherson (January 27, 1878 – November 18, 1954) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the House of Commons of Canada from 1926 to 1930. He was also a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1914 to ...

, Canadian politician and judge *

Harriet McPherson Harriet McPherson was an American politician, dairy farmer, and educator. McPherson lived in Stillwater, Minnesota, with her husband and family, and was a dairy farmer. She graduated from Winona State University with a bachelor's degree in elementa ...

, American politician, farmer, and educator *

Heather McPherson (politician) Heather McPherson (born May 9, 1972) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Edmonton Strathcona in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election. She previously served as executive director ...

(born 1972), Canadian politician * James L. McPherson (1881–1951), Canadian politician *

Jim McPherson James McPherson was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1982 to 1986 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. Political career McPherson ran ...

, Canadian politician *

Sir John Macpherson, 1st Baronet Sir John Macpherson, 1st Baronet (1745 – 12 January 1821), was a British administrator in India. He was the acting Governor-General of Bengal from 1785 to 1786. Early life Macpherson was born in 1745 at Sleat in the Isle of Skye, wh ...

, Governor-General of Bengal * Newton Leroy McPherson, birth name of

Newt Gingrich Newton Leroy Gingrich (; né McPherson; born June 17, 1943) is an American politician and author who served as the 50th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, he was the U ...

Sean McPherson Sean Patrick McPherson (November 23, 1970 – April 26, 2018) was an American politician, pastor, and educator who served as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2017 until his death in April 2018. Early life McPherson w ...

, American politician * Tom McPherson, American politician

In music

Casey McPherson Casey McPherson (born September 15, 1978) is a singer and songwriter based in Austin, Texas where he lives with his two daughters. He is currently the frontman of the bands Alpha Rev and Flying Colors, as well as his own Casey McPherson. He has ...

, musician from Austin, Texas * Charles McPherson, American saxophonist *

Dave McPherson (musician) InMe are an English rock band originally formed in Brentwood, Essex in 1996. InMe have released seven studio albums, two EPs, one "bootleg" album, one best-of compilation, one live album, one live EP and an acoustic album. A DVD of the band' ...

, English singer and guitarist for rock band InMe and drummer for metal band Centiment *

Gordon McPherson Gordon McPherson (born 1965) is a Scottish composer. McPherson was born in Dundee. He studied at the University of York, England, returning there for his doctorate, continuing with post-doctoral research at the Royal Northern College of Music ...

, Scottish composer * Graham McPherson, better known as Suggs, British vocalist of the second-wave ska band, Madness * Greg McPherson, English singer and guitarist for metal band Centiment and bassist for rock band InMe *

JD McPherson Jonathan David "JD" McPherson (born April 14, 1977), is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He is known for a retro sound rooted in the rock and roll, rockabilly, and rhythm and blues music of the 1950s. Amon ...

, American musician

In the military

Andrew McPherson (RAF officer) Flying Officer Andrew McPherson, (1918 – 12 May 1940) was a pilot with RAF Bomber Command in during the Second World War. Early life McPherson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Andrew and Jean McPherson. His father had served as a captain in ...

, Scottish World War II pilot *

James B. McPherson James Birdseye McPherson (November 14, 1828 – July 22, 1864) was a career United States Army officer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. McPherson was on the General's staff of Henry Halleck and late ...

, an American general of the Union Army during the American Civil War *

Stewart McPherson (VC) Stewart McPherson VC (1819 – 7 December 1892) was a Scottish soldier in India and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commo ...

, a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross

In theatre and literature

Anna Talbott McPherson Anna Talbott McPherson (1904–2003) wrote more than 22 biographies of famous Christians. She is also known for her pen and ink drawings, using shadings and colorings on scripted text to appear to form portraits. Biography Anna was born into a Quak ...

, American biographer and illustrator * Conor McPherson, Irish playwright and director *

Heather McPherson Heather Avis McPherson (28 May 1942 – 10 January 2017) was a feminist poet, publisher and editor who played a key role in supporting women artists and writers in New Zealand. In 1976, she founded the Spiral Collective group and ''Spiral,'' ...

(1942–2017), New Zealand feminist poet, publisher and editor *

James Alan McPherson James Alan McPherson (September 16, 1943 – July 27, 2016) was an American essayist and short-story writer. He was the first African-American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and was included among the first group of artists who re ...

, American novelist and short story writer *

James M. McPherson James Munro McPherson (born October 11, 1936) is an American Civil War historian, and is the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. He received the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for '' Battle Cry of F ...

, American Civil War author and historian at Princeton University *

John Macpherson (minister) John Macpherson (1710–1765) was a Scottish minister and antiquarian. Life The son of Dugald Macpherson, minister at Duirinish, Skye, he studied classics at Aberdeen University, graduating M.A. 1728, and D.D. 1761. He was minister of Barra in th ...

, Scottish minister and antiquarian *

Neil McPherson (artistic director) Neil McPherson (born London, 7 October 1969) is an artistic director and playwright. Artistic directing He was Artistic Director of the New End Theatre, Hampstead, from 1996 to 1997, and has been the Artistic Director of the Finborough Theatre, ...

, British theatre director * Rosamond McPherson "Roz" Young (1912–2005), American columnist, author, educator and historian

In business

* Lydia Starr McPherson (1827–1903), American newspaper writer, editor, and founder *

William McPherson Allen William McPherson Allen (September 1, 1900 – October 28, 1985) was an American businessman in the aviation industry who served as the President of Boeing from 1945 to 1968. Life and career Born in Lolo, Montana, he attended the University of M ...

, president of the Boeing Company from 1945 to 1970

Others

Aimee Semple McPherson Aimee Elizabeth Semple McPherson (née Kennedy; October 9, 1890 – September 27, 1944), also known as Sister Aimee or Sister, was a Canadian Pentecostalism, Pentecostal Evangelism, evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s,Ob ...

, American evangelist in the 1920s and 1930s * Anna McPherson, Canadian physicist *

Lisa McPherson Lisa McPherson (February 10, 1959 – December 5, 1995) was an American member of the Church of Scientology who died of a pulmonary embolism while under the care of the Church's Flag Service Organization (FSO) in Clearwater, Florida. Following ...

, scientologist who died while in the care of the Church of Scientology *

Stewart McPherson (geographer) Stewart Robin McPherson (born May 1983) is a British geographer, field biologist, nature photographer, and writer.McPherson, S.R. 2009. ''Pitcher Plants of the Old World''. Redfern Natural History Productions, Poole. Background Born May 1983, M ...

, British geographer