Surname McLane - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McLane: What does the surname McLane mean?
The surname McLane is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Eain, which means "son of the servant of Saint John." The name indicates a lineage that was devoted to serving Saint John, who is a revered figure in Christianity. The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" in Scottish and Irish surnames typically denotes "son of," emphasizing the familial link and descent from a common patriarch. The surname McLane, therefore, would generally refer to someone who is a descendant of a servant of Saint John. It is also possible that this surname was simply a patronymic, given to identify individuals by their father or ancestor’s name, rather than pointing to religious service. Variations of the surname include MacLean, Maclean, MacLane, and others. It is widespread in countries with a significant population of Scottish and Irish descendants, such as Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMcLane: Where does the name McLane come from?
The surname McLane has Scottish origins and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Eain" which translates to "son of the servant of Saint John". This name was popular among members of the early Christian church who devoted themselves to the teachings of Saint John.
The surname was first introduced in Scotland where it was adopted by a family in the Hebrides islands and the southwestern coast, mainly Isle of Mull. The clan played a significant role during the Middle Ages in Scotland.
Today, it is prevalent in nations to which Scottish people emigrated during the 19th and 20th centuries, like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, the McLane surname is particularly common in Texas, California, and Pennsylvania. The name can often appear with various spellings such as MacLean, McClain, or McLean.
Variations of the surname McLane
The surname McLane is of Scottish origin and belongs to the category of patronymic surnames, particularly common in Scotland, which derive from the given name of an ancestor. Here McLane originates from the Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, meaning son of the servant of Saint John.
The surname has numerous variations in spelling due to regional dialects and phonetic spelling, common in times when literacy was not widespread. Some of these variations include: MacLean, Maclean, MacLaine, MacLain, McLean, Mclean, McLain, Mclain, McClain, MacLane, Maclane, McClane, McLaine, Maclaine, MacLeane, McLeane, and many more.
Keep in mind that prefixes Mac, Mc and M' have the same meaning (Mac- being Gaelic for son of-), so they might be used interchangeably. This means the surname McLane may also take the form of Lane or Laine without the prefix.
Each of these spellings, while pronounced similarly, could have been developed independently in different geographical locations of Scotland and Ireland, meaning they might not refer to the same family line despite the phonetic and spelling similarities.
Famous people with the name McLane
- Kristina McLane: American actress
- Drew McLane: Former top executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Dorothy Kilgallen: Columnist, game show panelist and author
- Clay McLane: NFL safety, 1980-1987
- William F. McLane: American Legion national commander
- Frank McLane: American professional boxer
- Duncan McLane: American manufacturer and philanthropist
- Richard C. McLane Jr.: Former CEO of PepsiCo, North America
- Howard McLane: World champion middleweight boxer 10.Bruce McLane: Professional wrestler 11.Ray McLane: Major League Baseball outfielder 12.Team McLane: Professional Ghost Hunters 13.John McLane: Fictional NYPD detective 14.Mary McLane: Radical American journalist and editor 15.Michelle McLane Gordon: Entrepreneur and CEO of SolarCity