When did Seth MacFarlane conceive of the idea for " Family Guy " ?
MacFarlane or Macfarlane is a surname shared by : Alan Macfarlane ( born 1941 ) , a professor of anthropological science at Cambridge University Alexander Macfarlane ( 1851-1913 ) , a Scottish - Canadian logician , physicist , and mathematician Alexander Macfarlane ( politician ) ( 1818-1898 ) , a Nova Scotia lawyer and politician Alistair MacFarlane , British electrical engineer ; leading academic ; past Principal and Vice Chancellor of Heriot - Watt University , Edinburgh , and past Rector , University of the Highlands and Islands Ian Macfarlane ( economist ) , economist and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia Jean Macfarlane , American psychologist John MacFarlane , the founder and CEO of Sonos , which makes digital audio equipment John Edward Macfarlane , the editor of " Toronto Life " magazine John Muirhead Macfarlane ( 1855–1943 ) , a Scottish botanist and professor Laura Macfarlane , rock and roll musician Luke Macfarlane ( b.