Surname Mc Quillian - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mc Quillian: What does the surname Mc Quillian mean?
The surname Mc Quillian is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Uighilin", which means "son of Hugelin". "Hugelin" is a diminutive form of the Old French name "Hugues," brought to Ireland by Anglo-Norman settlers, which corresponds to the English name "Hugh". The Mc Quillians were an influential clan in the Northern region of Ireland, particularly in areas of County Antrim. The variations of this name include McQuillan, MacQuillan, MacQuillin, McQuillin, and others. As with many Irish surnames, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" denotes "son of," translating the full meaning of Mc Quillian to "son of little Hugh." It is important to note that the interpretation of surnames is not an exact science and can be influenced by regional dialects and variations, the evolution and anglicisation of languages, and historical contexts.
Order DNA origin analysisMc Quillian: Where does the name Mc Quillian come from?
The last name Mc Quillian is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Uighilin", which means "son of Hugelin", a personal name from a diminutive of Hugh. The surname is primarily associated with the northern region of Ireland, specifically with the county of Antrim.
The most prominent family bearing this name in Ireland's history were the lords of Route in County Antrim, from the 13th to the early 17th century. The McQuillans were of Hiberno-Norman descent, a ethnical group that arose from Normans who invaded Ireland during medieval times.
However, due to the mass Irish emigration during the 19th and 20th centuries, the surname Mc Quillian is now not only found in Ireland but also across parts of the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK. Just like many other Irish surnames, the dispersion of the name worldwide reflects the history of Irish diaspora. Today, it is still relatively common in Northern Ireland, but it can be found in small communities around the globe.
Variations of the surname Mc Quillian
The surname McQuillan is of Irish origin and is derived from the Irish-Gaelic names Mac Uighilín or Mac Cuilinn. Over the years, this surname has seen many spelling variations due to a multitude of reasons such as translation issues, spelling mistakes, or regional pronunciation variations.
The various variants of McQuillan include Quillan, Quillin, McQuillen, McQuillin, McQuillon, Quillen, Quilliam, Quillon, among others. The most common prefixes are Mac, Mc, and O', which, in Irish, mean 'son of'. Therefore, O'Quillan or O'Quillin could also be considered variants of the same surname.
Often due to the process of anglicisation, the prefixes might have been dropped, leading to variations like Quillan or Quillin. There are also instances where Mc or Mac has been added to the surname Quillan, leading to McQuillan or MacQuillan.
As for surnames of the same origin, there are a few, predominantly being Irish or Gaelic in nature. The most closely related surnames are those that have derived from Mac Uighilín or Mac Cuilinn, like Killen, Killeen, and Collins to name a few. However, the connection might not be very apparent due to the variations in spellings brought on by the anglicisation process.
Famous people with the name Mc Quillian
- There are a few notable people with the last name McQuillian, although it isn't a common surname among celebrities:
- Aly McQuillian: Aly McQuillian is a recognized name in the world of online gaming. She works for Jagex as an Executive Producer on "RuneScape," one of the world's most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing games.
- Liam McQuillian: He is a renowned Scottish politician. Liam was a candidate for the Scottish Libertarian Party in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
- Gary McQuillian: Hampton McQuillian's son Gary had a brief career as a jockey in the 1960s. Although he didn't reach the same fame as his father, he is frequently remembered in horseracing circles.
- Hampton McQuillian: Known for his horse racing career, he was among the best known American jockeys of the 20th century.
- Tracy McQuillian: An acclaimed Australian environmental scientist, she is recognized for her work as a sustainable living expert. Indeed, the last name McQuillian might not resonate with Hollywood or music industry fame, but it does have a diverse array of noteworthy bearers in various fields.