Surname MacQuene - Meaning and Origin
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MacQuene: What does the surname MacQuene mean?
The surname MacQuene is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Suibhne," which translates to "son of Suibhne." The personal name "Suibhne" is composed of elements meaning "good" and "going," so it can be understood as implying a good-going, pleasant or well-disposed nature. Over time, it became a prominent surname in Scotland, particularly in regions such as Argyllshire. Because surnames often provide clues about geographic origin, occupation, or family patriarchs, the name MacQuene likely indicates descent from a well-regarded or favorably perceived ancestor named Suibhne. However, many historical records of this surname show various spellings, such as MacQueen, McQueen, MacQueon, MacSween, and others, as standardization of language and spelling was not prevalent in early centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQuene: Where does the name MacQuene come from?
The surname MacQuene is of Scottish origin. It is a variant of MacQueen, deriving from the Gaelic name Mac Shuibhne, which means 'son of Suibhne'. The personal name Suibhne translates to 'pleasant' in English.
Scottish surnames like MacQuene often contain prefixes that allude to a form of familial or patriarchal relationship. The ‘Mac’ prefix denotes 'son of', indicating the name’s origins as a patronymic one.
Today, the name is not very common. However, various forms of the surname, such as McQueen, MacQueen, or McQuene, may be found more frequently, particularly in Scotland and in countries with a strong Scottish diaspora heritage, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Plus, the surname may also have spread to other regions due to emigration at different points in history. However, it's worth noting that the spelling variations are a result of processes where surnames were translated orally and transcribed phonetically, leading to many different versions of the original name.
Variations of the surname MacQuene
The surname MacQuene originates from Scotland and is a variant of McQueen which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Shuibhne, meaning "son of Suibhne". The name Suibhne signifies "pleasant" or "well-disposed". The "Mac" prefix denotes son, hence “son of Suibhne”.
There are several other variants, derivations, and spelling alterations of the surname such as MacQueen, McQuien, MacQuin, MacCuin, MacSwan, MacSween, McSwene, and MacQuone. These variations are often formed by regional phonic differences or transliteration from Gaelic to English. Some other Anglicised versions include Swanson, Swan, Sweeney, and others.
Many Scottish names were adopted in their Anglicised forms by the families who migrated to America and other English speaking nations, so you can also trace the origins of the name MacQuene back to these roots. The conversion of names from Gaelic to English often resulted in a store of names that appear to be derived from both languages.
Surname spelling usually evolved over the course of centuries, with name holders having different ways of spelling their names. It's also normal to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the spelling of a name in personal and official documents often varied.
Famous people with the name MacQuene
- Niall MacQuene: Irish professional footballer
- Alastair MacQuene: British film producer
- Robert MacQuene: Scottish businessman and politician
- Maureen MacQuene: British author and academic
- Donald MacQuene: American soldier and politician
- Angus MacQuene: Canadian lawyer, businessperson and philanthropist
- Gordon MacQuene: Welsh actor
- Lorraine MacQuene: Scottish actress
- Fiona MacQuene: Scottish artist and illustrator
- Ian MacQuene: Irish businessman and social entrepreneur