Surname MacQueyne - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacQueyne: What does the surname MacQueyne mean?
The surname MacQueyne is of Scottish origin and is understood to translate to "Son of John" or "Son of Eoin." The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eoin," which literally means "son of John." In the old Gaelic orthography, the name Eoin was pronounced similar to the English name Owen, hence "Mac Eoin" would mean "son of Owen." These types of surnames originated as a way to identify individuals by their father's name, revealing familial relationships. It is common in many cultures and languages, including Scottish and Irish Gaelic, to use the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" to denote "son of." Thus, the MacQueyne family likely has roots tracing back to a John or Owen ancestor. Like many surnames, spelling variations over time and across different regions are common. This surname has several variations including McEoin, McKeon, McKeown, McEwen, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQueyne: Where does the name MacQueyne come from?
The surname MacQueyne is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic language. It is a patronymic form of the personal name Coinneach, which in English is Kenneth. This name means "handsome" or "comely." The "Mac" prefix in Scottish and Irish surnames typically means "son of," hence MacQueayne is "Son of Kenneth". Historically, the name was common in the regions of Ross and Inverness in Scotland.
This surname is not commonly found today; it is quite rare and appears more frequently in its various other spellings, such as MacQueen, MacQuin, MacSwene, and MacSween. Like many Scottish surnames, MacQueyne and its variations may be found in countries that experienced significant Scottish immigration, like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, it is presumably most common in Scotland.
Variations of the surname MacQueyne
The surname MacQueyne is of Scottish origin and appears under different variants and spellings. Some of these include McQuain, McQueen, McQuinn, MacQuin, MacQuinn, MacQuinne, MacQuuen, MacQueene, MacQuain, and MacQweyn.
All these spellings are characterized by the prefix "Mac" or "Mc," meaning "son of" in Gaelic, followed by different interpretations of the original Gaelic term. It's believed the surname derived from the Gaelic nickname "cuinn" meaning "gentle" or "mild". The name may also be linked to the Gaelic term "cuan," meaning "ocean," suggesting a possible location-based origin.
These various spellings evolved over time due to a range of factors, including dialectical variations, phonetical spellings, and translation from Gaelic to English. It is also common for surnames to adapt and change in spelling when families migrate to different countries. For example, the anglicized forms of the name such as McQuain or McQueen are more prevalent in English-speaking countries like the United States.
Please be aware that while these names may correlate historically or stylistically, proof of lineage or familial connection would require genealogical research.
Famous people with the name MacQueyne
- Rory MacQueyne: Scottish actor who has appeared in several films such as Ginger & Rosa, White Heat, and Tatou.
- Alan MacQueyne: Scottish actor best known for his role as "Bertie" in the TV series Monarch of the Glen.
- Iain MacQueyne: Scottish fashion designer who has created custom pieces for the likes of Kylie Minogue, Madonna, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
- Wendy MacQueyne: Scottish actress who starred in the cult classic film A Fish Called Wanda.
- Simon MacQueyne: Scottish novelist whose debut novel, The Bastard of Glencoe, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
- Derek MacQueyne: Scottish photographer who exhibited his work at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
- Helen MacQueyne: Scottish author and poet whose collections include Scots Hairst (2015) and Poppin O Water (2017).
- James MacQueyne: Scottish athletics star who competed in the 400 metres at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
- Euan MacQueyne: Scottish actor who had a recurring role in the popular British TV show Monarch of the Glen.
- Neil MacQueyne: Scottish comedian, writer and actor whose stand-up routines include his appearance as a guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2002.