Surname McCleland - Meaning and Origin

McCleland: What does the surname McCleland mean?

The surname McCleland is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Fhaolain, which means son of the servant of St. Fillan. St. Fillan was a notable figure in the early Scottish Church, with several churches and monasteries named in his honor. The name Fillan itself is derived from the Gaelic "faoilean", meaning "wolf". The last name McCleland, therefore, signifies a family lineage associated with serving or following St. Fillan. Like many Gaelic last names, the spelling has altered over centuries due to phonetic translations and regional variations, with other forms including MacClelland, McClellan, and McLelland. Despite these changes, the name’s connection to religious service and the influential St. Fillan remain prominent in its meaning.

McCleland: Where does the name McCleland come from?

The surname McCleland is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Sottish Gaelic MacillFhaolain, which translates to the 'son of servant of Fillan', Fillan being an early Irish saint. There are variants in spelling of this surname such as McClelland, MacClelland, McLelland, and McLeland, among others.

The clan McClelland originated in the ancient Dalriadan kingdom, on the western coast of Scotland and the Hebrides islands. After several centuries, many descendants of the clan migrated beyond Scotland, particularly as a result of political turmoil and economic hardships in their homeland.

The McCleland name is most common today in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as a result of these historic migrations. It's notably prevalent in Northern Ireland due to the movement of many Scottish communities to Ulster during the 17th Century Plantation of Ulster. However, the highest density of McClelands per population can still be found in Scotland, keeping in line with its Scottish roots.

Variations of the surname McCleland

The surname McCleland is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the Gaelic clan MacGilleFhaolain, with "Mac" meaning "son of", "Gille" meaning "servant", and "Fhaolain" referring to a wolf. There are several variants for the surname McCleland due to geographical dispersion, dialect, and phonetic spellings. Some of these include McClelland, MacClelland, MacLelland, McLelland, McClellan, MacClellan, McLellan, McClellen, Maclellan, and McLelen. The 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefix can interchangeably use, and sometimes they may also be missing. Furthermore, the surname McCleland can be found with various endings such as 'and', 'an', 'en', 'end', 'ant', 'ind', 'und', and 'ond'. Another related surname is Cleland, which drops the Mac or Mc prefix entirely. These variations often resulted from spelling inconsistencies in early administrative documents. This makes the tracing of the family lineage a bit complex, given the vast different potential spellings of the surname due to phonetic spellings and geographical dispersion of family members.

Famous people with the name McCleland

• Megyn McClelland: American actress best known for starring in the hit TV show The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.
• Kaylee McClelland: American singer-songwriter best known for her EP Echoes of the Past.
• Taylor McClelland: English professional footballer currently playing for Oxford United in League One.
• Kyle McClelland: Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
• John McClelland: Canadian politician and lawyer who served as mayor of Ottawa from 1973 to 1978.
• Harry McClelland: Scottish-American long-distance runner who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.
• Tina McClelland: American street photographer known for her photographs of poverty in Chicago's inner-city.
• Scott McClelland: American entrepreneur and investor who has founded and co-founded multiple companies in the retail and technology sectors.
• Mack McClelland: American journalist who worked for the Los Angeles Times covering various entertainment topics.
• Nicole McClelland: Canadian chef, author and television host known for her family-friendly dishes.

Other surnames

McClelan