Surname Macdrain - Meaning and Origin
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Macdrain: What does the surname Macdrain mean?
The last name Macdrain is likely of Scottish or Irish origin. It likely originated from a Gaelic patronymic surname meaning "son of Draine." The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Draine or Mac Dráin.
The name Draine is derived from the Gaelic word “draighean,” meaning "valuable" or “splendor." The name may also have come from the old Celtic word “drain,” meaning “river,” as the river Draine passes near the town of Donegal in Western Ireland.
The Macdrain surname appears to have been first used in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland in the 13th century. Additionally, the Macdrain name can be found in the eastern Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Macdrain family name is most often associated with literature, particularly authors, poets and journalists. Over the years, the Macdrain surname has been linked to the works of writers including Seumas Macdrain, a 19th Century Irish poet, biographer and journalist, and Mark Macdrain who was a popular subject of Canadian writers and publishers in the 1920s and 1930s.
Macdrain remains a very popular surname in Scotland and Ireland. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people share the last name Macdrain today. The name is a testament to the long history, literature and culture associated with Scotland and Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacdrain: Where does the name Macdrain come from?
The surname Macdrain is mostly associated with Ulster in Northern Ireland, as it is most commonly found there today in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is an anglicised version of the Irish and Scottish surname Mac Dhraighne, which means "son of the descendant of An Draighneach".
Macdrain is also found in areas of the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand.
It is believed that the Macdrain family originated in the Ulster region of Ireland, with the surname being derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "dhraighneach" meaning "descendant of An Draighneach". This surname has been used in Scotland and Ireland since at least the 12th century.
In the United States, Macdrain first began appearing on records in the late 19th century, with the first recorded Macdrain living in Rhode Island in 1884. Since then, it has spread across the country and can now be found in many states such as Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, and California.
In Canada, Macdrain is most prevalent in Ontario, where the first recorded Macdrain was found on a census in 1871. Other provinces in which the surname can be found include British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.
Overall, Macdrain is most commonly associated with Ulster in Northern Ireland today, though it also has a presence in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Macdrain
Macdrain is a surname of Scottish origin. It is a patronymic derived from the given name MacDrain, which was originally derived from the Gaelic personal name MacDráin. In Gaelic, this name is rendered as Mac Druain or Mac Drúin, and it consists of the prefix “mac,” which means “son of,” and the root “dráin” or “drúin,” which is derived from the word meaning “little rod.” The alternate spelling is MacDrane, and variants include McDrane, McDrayne, MacDrune, MacDrone, MacDrean, MacDrenn, Mac Dreine, MacDreen, and MacDrinne. Common surnames associated with Macdrain are MacDrain, McDrane, McDrayne, MacDrune, MacDrone, MacDrean, MacDrenn, Mac Dreine, MacDreen, and MacDrinne. This surname is common in Scotland and Northern Ireland and can also be found among Scots-Irish immigrants in America, Canada, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Macdrain
- Conway MacDrain: Irish actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter.
- Hollis MacDrain: American journalist and author.
- Erin MacDrain: American television news anchor and reporter.
- Dr. Iris MacDrain: American endocrinologist and professor of clinical medicine.
- Alfred MacDrain: British photographer, painter, and sculptor.
- Logan MacDrain: British horseracing legend.
- Eoin MacDrain: Irish Olympic athlete, competitor in the high jump.
- Erica MacDrain: Australian rugby player and concussion awareness campaigner.
- Debbie MacDrain: Canadian technology entrepreneur and investor.
- Mitchell MacDrain: British actor, best known for his role in the long running TV series The Bill.