Surname McClean - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McClean: What does the surname McClean mean?
The last name McClean is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Eathain" which means ‘son of the servant of Saint John’. The clan is originally from the Inner Hebrides region on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The name also can have variations in the spelling, such as MacLean, Maclean, and McLean, however, McClean is the most commonly found in Ireland. It is important to note that the prefixes 'Mac' or 'Mc' signify 'son of' within Gaelic culture, indicating a strong cultural foundation in family and lineage. Despite its origin, it's now found in many other parts of the world due to emigration. Like many surnames, McClean gives an insight into family history, ancestry, and ancient cultural associations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcClean: Where does the name McClean come from?
The surname McClean has its roots in the Celtic region. It is derived from the old Gaelic name "MacGilleEain" meaning "the son of the servant of Saint John." The name originated in Scotland, where the McClean family held a family seat in the islands of Mull and Tiree. In the early centuries, this family played a crucial role as part of the Scottish Clans who fought against English rule.
Over time, due to historical migrations and the mobility of populations, the McClean name has spread to other parts of the world, mostly English-speaking countries. The mass emigration from Scotland due to the Highland Clearances spread the McClean name to places like North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Today, the McClean surname is most common in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is also quite prevalent in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Despite the varying spelling forms such as MacLean, McLean, McLane, among others, it remains a recognizable and respected name.
Variations of the surname McClean
The surname McClean has various spelling variations and surnames of the same origins. Some of these include MacLean, Maclean, McLean, McLaine, McLane, MacLaine, and MacLane, emphasizing the interchangeability of "Mac" and "Mc", and the variability of the final vowel.
The surname originates from Scottish Gaelic, with "Mac" meaning "Son" and "Lean" derived from a personal name, thus the original form would be "MacGilleEain" meaning "Son of the Servant of John". This may also be spelled as MacGill-Eain, McGilliean or MacIllEain.
In Ireland, it's equivalent would be Mac Giolla Eáin or Mac Giolla Eoin which displays similar variants such as McGilleon, McGillion, etc.
In some cases, it may also morph into completely different looking surnames due to transcription errors or phonetic spellings, such as Macklin or McLine.
It's important to note that spelling variations are extremely common in surnames, particularly in ones that have existed for several centuries, as standardized spelling is a fairly recent invention. Therefore, there could be potentially many more variations of the name McClean.
Famous people with the name McClean
- Paddy McClean, Irish Gaelic Footballer
- Don McLean, American singer-songwriter
- Taylor McLean, American TV and film producer
- Camille McClean, international model and actress
- Jenny McLean, Canadian actress
- Donny McLean, Australian rugby league player
- Mack McLean, Canadian football player
- Ryan McClean, English footballer
- Lillyanne McClean, Australian politician
- Angus McClean, former Irish republican imprisoned for 15 years