Surname McEven - Meaning and Origin

McEven: What does the surname McEven mean?

The McEven surname originates from Ireland and Scotland and is of Scottish and Gaelic origin. It is derived from the traditional Scottish name MacEachain, which is a patronymic of the Gaelic 'Mac Eachann' meaning 'son of Eachann'. Eachann was an early Gaelic first name which is derived from the early name 'Echach'. The Gaelic name 'Mac Eachann' literally translated means 'son of red-brown', which was symbolic of the colour of a red deer.

The McEven surname is most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands, especially within the Inverness-shire region. It is believed to be one of the oldest clans in Scotland, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the mid-1600s. Throughout the years, many migrants have adopted the McEven name, as it is now found in many parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The McEven name is certainly part of a proud and proud tradition, and symbolizes strength, courage, and nobility. Those with the McEven surname are typically seen as courageous, loyal, and intelligent individuals who are always striving for excellence. Additionally, members of this family are often skilled at expressing their views and ideas in a convincing manner, which they often utilize to great success.

McEven: Where does the name McEven come from?

The last name McEven is most commonly found today in North America, predominantly in Canada and the United States. Specifically, the surname is concentrated along the northeastern and midwestern regions of the United States, with a large contingency residing in upstate New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. A significant share of McEvens in Canada can be found in Ontario, with smaller communities throughout the prairies and west coast.

The McEven surname is thought to have originally derived from the ancient Gaelic name MacEóghain. The name translates to “son of Eoghan”, referring to a person of the same name, who’s legendary qualities and valor have been immortalized in the ancient Irish epic, The Adventures of Cuchulain. Settlers bearing this name were likely some of the first people to ever arrive to the New World and British colonial North America.

Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau found that within the United States alone, there were nearly 6,000 individuals who identified as having the McEven surname in 2019. However, it is unclear how many of them claimed the surname as a direct descendent of that ancient line of MacEóghains.

Despite its western origins, the McEven name is not exclusively English-speaking. It can also be found in Spanish-speaking countries, such as Argentina and Mexico, among others, meaning that the last name has strong ties to many countries across the world.

Variations of the surname McEven

McEven is an Irish Patronymic (inherited) surname derived from the Gaelic word 'Mac Eibhean', which was used to identify people associated with a certain individual. It is most commonly found in County Donegal, and is particularly associated with the O'Lochlainn Clan.

The variants for the surname McEven are Mac Eibhean, Mac Aevean, McCeiven, McCeven and McCeifen. These spellings are often based on regional dialects, and the surname can appear in multiple variations depending on the original location. There are also other surnames emanating from the same clan which have a similar spelling; these include Mac Haeven and Mac Ahebin.

McEven is an anglicization of the Gaelic name Mac Eibhean, which means 'son of Eibhean'. The Gaelic 'Mc' prefix indicates that the family originated from the O'Lochlainn Clan, and this surname is believed to be derived from a personal name, 'Iubhain'. This is sometimes anglicized to 'John' or 'Joseph', although in older records Eibhean appears to be a given name, and it is uncertain if it was ever a part of the O'Lochlainn Clan name.

As the surname spread to different countries, it underwent a number of spelling variations, incorporating diverse influences into its phonetics. It can now be found transcribed in a range of forms, including McEvan, McEvenue, McEvoy, Mcevan, MacEvoy, McEwan and Maeveen. It is also sometimes confused with the English surname of McEwan, although they are not related.

Overall, the surname McEven is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Eibhean, and is associated with the O'Lochlainn Clan. The other variants and spellings are a result of regional dialects, as well as the incorporation of different influences throughout time.

Famous people with the name McEven

• Shaylee McEver: An American YouTube personality and dancer well-known for her Shaylee McEver YouTube channel which features covers of popular songs.
• Denise McEver: An American professional wrestler who competed in World Wrestling Federation in the late 1990s.
• Brain McEver: A prominent American jazz trumpeter and composer, best known for his single "The Little Things".
• Dennis McEver: An American businessman and entrepreneur who is founder and Chief Executive Officer of McEver Enterprises, a private investment and venture capital firm.
• Mark McEver: An American author, entrepreneur and podcast host. He is the author of the bestselling book The Equity Equation: How to Balance Work and Life and Achieve Maximum Results.
• Tyler McEver: An American professional basketball coach who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
• Brian McEver: An American architect and real estate developer who has designed homes and buildings in the Southern California area for over 30 years.
• Morgan McEver: An American country music artist, best known for his chart-topping single "Kiss My Lips".
• Bill McEver: An American film producer and casting director who is known for producing award-winning films such as The Peacemaker and Chasing Mavericks.
• Robert McEver: An American DJ and EDM artist, best known for his singles "Catch You Out" and "Call Me".

Other surnames

McEver