The Macphails are descended from one "Paul Macphail,
goodsir to that Sir Andrew Macphail, parson of Croy, who wrote the history of the
Mackintoshes.
Paul lived in the
time of Duncan, first of the name, and eleventh of Mackintosh, who died in 1496. The head of the tribe had
his residence at Inverarnie, on the water of Nairn".
The name comes from Gaelic meaning 'son
of Paul'. It is first recorded in 1414. Members of the clan were associated with the
Camerons, Clan Chattan, the Mackintoshes, and the Mackays, a number of MacPhails appearing
on a list of tenants on the Reay (Mackay) estates in 1679.
