Surname MacAllan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacAllan: What does the surname MacAllan mean?
The surname MacAllan is Scottish and is believed to have Gaelic origins. The prefix "Mac" means "son of," thereby indicating a patriarchal lineage. The second part of the name “Allan” is a first name of Gaelic origin, which translates to mean "little rock" or "harmony." Therefore, MacAllan can be interpreted as "son of Allan." It's important to note that the spelling of the surname, like many other surnames, may vary over time and across different regions. Variations may include McAllan, MacAlan, and others. Keep in mind that many surnames were often based on an individual's profession, physical characteristics, or geographical location and the definitive meaning of the name may have been lost or altered over time.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAllan: Where does the name MacAllan come from?
The last name MacAllan is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic patronymic name "Mac Ailein" which translates to "Son of Alan." The Alan in reference is traditionally believed to be a son of the Earl of Brittany who accompanied the Normans into England in the 11th century. Therefore, the surname is part of a wider group of names formed by the addition of the Gaelic prefix "Mac" to the personal name of the father.
The surname is not overwhelmingly common today but can be found in populations of Scottish descent, particularly in countries such as Scotland itself, England, the United States, Canada and Australia. Over time, MacAllan may have also been altered into various other spellings including McAllen, MacAlan, McAlan, and others, thus dispersing the name further. However, the highest concentration of people with the last name MacAllan is still likely to be found in Scotland, given its origins. Note that single malt Scotch whisky brand The Macallan might also contribute to the global awareness of the name, though unrelated to lineage.
Variations of the surname MacAllan
The surname MacAllan is primarily of Scottish origin and it means "son of Allan." It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Ailein, which is a patronymic form of the name Allan. There are several variants, alternative spellings and other surnames of the same origin.
MacAllan can also be spelled as MacAllen, MacAllin, McAllen, and McAllan. Some other variants of the surname include MacAilan, MacEllen, MacAlen, MacCalan, and MacAlyne. The 'Mac' can be replaced with 'Mc' - a common practice in Scottish surnames, which denotes 'son of', such as McAllan, McAilan, McAllen, McEllen, McAlen, McCalan, and McAlyne.
The surname is often Anglicized or adjusted to merely Allan or Allen, depending on the region and family history.
It's important to note that due to the nature of oral tradition and various dialects among Gaelic speakers in Scotland, the spelling of these surnames can greatly vary. For the same reason, surnames of the same root can often be seen with or without the prefix "Mac" or "Mc", and spellings could be entirely phonetic, based on the pronunciation of the name.
Famous people with the name MacAllan
- John Macallan Brown: engineer, theologian and acting rector of St Paul's University College, Ottawa
- Alexander Macallan: British and Irish politician
- Shannon Macallan: South African actor and singer
- Alexander Macallan: British Army officer
- William Macallan: Scottish advocate and Keeper of the Signet
- Kenneth Macallan: British and Canadian entomologist
- Derek Macallan: politician, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, 1975–1990
- Margaret Macallan: British mathematician
- Christina Macallan: British author, speaker, and editor
- Keira Macallan: British singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Robert Macallan: British artist
- Tom Macallan: British actor and producer
- George Macallan: German-born British geologist
- Simon MacAllan: Scottish-American entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Sir Eric Macallan: British nuclear physicist, president of The Institution of Analysts and Programmers
- Colin Macallan: former Scottish Ballet dancer
- Angus Macallan: Canadian politician
- Raymond MacAllan: Australian Anglican bishop
- William Macallan: Royal Navy admiral
- Janet Macallan: former UN special envoy in Guinea-Bissau