Surname MacAlan - Meaning and Origin
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MacAlan: What does the surname MacAlan mean?
The surname MacAlan is of Scottish origin and is believed to be a patronymic name derived from the personal name Alan. In Gaelic, 'Mac' means 'son of', and therefore, MacAlan can be interpreted as 'son of Alan'. The name Alan is of Celtic and Old Breton origin and was popular in Scotland from the 11th century onwards, likely due to the influence of the Norman-French Stewards who had connections with Brittany. Alan is generally thought to mean 'rock' or 'harmony'. Hence, MacAlan could be interpreted as 'son of the rock' or 'son of harmony'. While exact meanings can be lost over centuries and with migrations of populations, these are considered to be the most likely interpretations. It is also important to note that surnames often denoted familial relationships and were not necessarily intended to carry a specific inherent meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAlan: Where does the name MacAlan come from?
The surname MacAlan is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Ailin, which translates to "son of Alan." The name Alan is itself of ancient Celtic origin and has various interpretations, such as "rock" or "handsome."
MacAlan is not a common surname today, due in part to the vast array of spelling variations that exist, including MacAllan, MacAllen, MacAlen, and McAlan, among others. This name may have evolved further with emigration and anglicisation of spelling. Commonly, it would have dispersed primarily through Scottish emigration to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Due to variations in spelling and dispersal, it's hard to pinpoint precisely where MacAlan and its variants are most common today. Areas with historically significant Scottish populations like parts of the United States and Canada might have higher instances of the surname. The name's presence would also depend on the patterns of migration and settlement of individuals bearing the name. But overall, it is a relatively rare last name worldwide.
Variations of the surname MacAlan
The surname MacAlan is of Scottish origin and comes from the Gaelic name MacAilín, which means "son of Alan." Over centuries this surname has been modified and adopted by different cultures, resulting in various variants and spellings.
The most common variant are McAlan and M'Alan both used interchangeably especially in Irish and Scottish cultures. Other variants can also simply drop the prefix such as Alan, Allan, Allen and Alain.
Sometimes the spelling can change to reflect pronunciation, with names such as Mackallan, MacAllan, MacAlon, Makallan, or Makalon. In certain regions, the name is also spelled as MacCallan, MacCollin, MacElhinney or even MacKillan.
There are also derived surnames which might originate from MacAlan. These include O'Alan, FitzAlan, D'Alan, and Galan. The surname Alan itself might also derive from MacAlan. Similarly, the surnames Allan, Allen and Alon might have been influenced by MacAlan.
In summary, the surname MacAlan has been modified and adopted by different cultures over centuries, resulting in various variants, spellings and possible other surnames of the same origin. Some of those variants and spellings include McAlan, M'Alan, Mackallan, and MacCollin, among others.
Famous people with the name MacAlan
- Brian MacAlan: A British video game designer and entrepreneur best known for his work on the hit game Pente and the groundbreaking 3D Empires game series.
- Lord MacAlan: The former Scottish politician with the title Earl of Moray.
- David MacAlan: A Scottish actor with a long list of TV and film credits including The Bill, Midsomer Murders, Spooks, and Dr. Who.
- Iain MacAlan: A Scottish sculptor and painter who is best known for his brightly colored abstract-expressionist works.
- Ross MacAlan: A British singer-songwriter known for the hit songs "Do I Love You That Much" and "She Hasn't Found Love Yet".
- Jonathan MacAlan: The lead singer of Scottish band The Valkyries and a prominent DJ with a passion for house music.
- Thomas MacAlan: A Scottish golfer who competed in a number of professional tournaments throughout his career including The Open Championship.
- John MacAlan: A Scottish politician who served in the House of Commons from 1825 to 1841.
- Graham MacAlan: A Scottish actor best known for his work in the film The Spy Who Shagged Me as well as the series Highlander.
- Mark MacAlan: A former professional football player who represented Stenhousemuir, Accrington Stanley, and Motherwell during his career.