Surname MacMilian - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacMilian: What does the surname MacMilian mean?
MacMillan is a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin and translates to "Son of the Bald man." This name is derived from two words - "Mac," meaning son, and "Maoláin," with "maol" meaning bald and "án" being a diminutive suffix. This suggests that the first person to bear this name was the son of a bald man or a man with a closely cropped hair. The original spelling was "MacMhaoláin," which illustrates the pronunciation more accurately but it has since been anglicized to MacMillan, McMillan, or Macmillen. The MacMillan clan is considered one of the oldest Scottish clans with histories tracing back to the 14th century. They had a vast territory covering parts of the Scottish Highlands, from the Atlantic Ocean to Loch Awe. The clan MacMillan motto is "Miseris succurrere disco," meaning "I learn to succour the unfortunate," showing their service-minded ethos throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisMacMilian: Where does the name MacMilian come from?
The surname MacMillan has its origins in Scotland, making it a traditionally Scottish last name. The name is derived from the Gaelic "MacMhaolain", which means "son of the bald or tonsured one." Historically, it was associated with a clan in the highlands of Scotland, known as Clan MacMillan.
The influence of Scottish migration has now rendered this name prevalent in many English-speaking countries around the world such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the surname remains most common in on the west coast of Scotland, specifically in areas like Knapdale and Lochaber, where the original Clan MacMillan used to dwell.
The MacMillan name is also commonly associated with a major international publishing company named Macmillan Publishers, increasing its recognition worldwide. It is important to note that while renowned, MacMillan is not one of the most common surnames in Scotland, but because of its historical roots, is well-recognised as a distinctly Scottish name.
Variations of the surname MacMilian
The surname MacMilian has various variants and spellings which originated from the same root, primarily from Scottish and Irish Gaelic cultures. These include McMillan, McMullen, McMullin, MacMullen, MacMullin, MacMillen, and McMillen.
These variations came about due to differences in regional dialects and phonetic spelling by English clerks. The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" means "son of," leading to the interpretation of the name as "son of the bald or tonsured one," derived from the Gaelic word "Maolain."
The original Gaelic form of the name is Mac Maolain, which means "son of the bald or tonsured one." The MacMullan and MacMillan clans in Scotland have a common origin, and both belong to the Siol Alpine, or Race of Alpine. Alpine was a king of Scots who ruled from 834 to 841 A.D.
McMillon, McMillian, MacMullan, MacMullin, MacMilion, and McMillion can also be considered as versions of the same surname while surnames spelled slightly different such as MacMullan, McMillion, and McMillan may also have the same Gaelic origin. In Ireland, similar surnames include MacMaolain, MacMullan, and MacMullen. These names also have been anglicised over centuries due to migration and the influence of the English language.
Famous people with the name MacMilian
- Paula MacMillan: Scottish musician and singer-songwriter
- Wilder MacMillan: Canadian attorney, former chairman and director of TD Bank Financial Group
- Sir Charles MacMillan: Scottish ship-owner
- Michael MacMillan: Canadian entrepreneur, co-founder of Atlantis Productions
- Wilma MacMillan: Canadian children's author
- Hugh MacMillan: Canadian physician
- Greg MacMillan: Professional Rodeo Cowboy
- Mairi MacMillan: Gaelic singer
- Nancy MacMillan: Canadian politician
- Colin MacMillan: Professional ice hockey player