Surname McLintock - Meaning and Origin

McLintock: What does the surname McLintock mean?

The last name McLintock originates from a clan in the Highlands of Scotland. The McLintock clan can be traced back to the 12th century and is believed to be of the same lineage as the MacDonalds of Clan Donald. The clan was based in an area known as Gael, near Inverness, making the name of Scottish Highland origin.

The crest of the McLintock clan is a hand holding a dagger with a wheel in the background, which is possibly a reference to the clan’s traditional wheel-making profession. This symbol may also be a representation of the clan’s motto, “Nec Temere, Nec Timide”, meaning ‘neither rashly nor timidly’.

The McLintocks gained prominence in the 16th century when they supported Elizabeth I in her battle with the Catholic Church. As a result of their loyalty, they were awarded lands on the Isle of Skye and elevated to chief’s status in 1672. They were also granted a baronetcy of Nova Scotia by Charles II.

Today, the McLintock name is often associated with greatness and strength. The McLintock spirit is still evident in the clan’s members who share strong family values and a strong work ethic. Through their many achievements and contributions to Scotland, the McLintock clan has earned a place in the annals of Scottish history.

McLintock: Where does the name McLintock come from?

The last name McLintock is most commonly found in the British Isles and southeastern parts of Ireland. In Scotland, it is relatively common, particularly in the east coastal regions and islands. It is also found in small numbers in the north of England and Wales. The number of people with the last name McLintock is quite small at 0.002% of the population.

In the United States, the name is fairly rare but present in pockets around the country. The largest concentration of the surname is in Kentucky and in California. It is also found in Virginia, Georgia, New York, Illinois, and numerous other states. There are also a handful of people with the last name in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The McLintock family has its roots in Scotland, where the surname has been established since at least the 16th century. The name is derived from a Gaelic personal name MacGhille-Fhinnein, meaning ‘son of the follower of St Finan’. St Finan was an Irish missionary from the 5th or 6th century.

It seems that the McLintocks began their move to spread their name around the world in the mid-18th century, when emigrants began leaving the British Isles in larger numbers. Today, the surname remains relatively uncommon outside of the British Isles but can be found in pockets around the world.

Variations of the surname McLintock

McLintock is a Scottish surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic language. It is often spelled as MacLintock, McLaentock, McLantock, McLantock, MacLentok, MacLentock, MacLentoch, MacLentoch, and a variety of other variations.

The surname itself has its origins in the Scottish clan Maclean, which was used by colloquial means to identify the people of the clan Maclean or their descendants in Scotland. The original forms of the name are thought to derive from the Scottish Gaelic terms Mac Gillean 'Son of Gillean'. In this way the name was also written as Mac Gillean in different documents.

The early variants of the name included MacAnlea, McLena, and McClintock and were used mainly in the Borders along the border of Scotland and England. The name McLintock is believed to have been derived from the word Maclean.

The McLintocks were extremely loyal to the Scottish royal house of Stewart, and served for the Stuart family during the Jacobite Uprisings in the late seventeenth century. The McLintocks were also responsible for the construction of the Flatiron Masonry Dam in Dundee, Scotland, which was instrumental in the production of salted cod for the British Navy.

The spelling of McLintock has evolved over the centuries, and is today seen in a variety of spellings, including MacLintock, McLaentock, McLantock, McLantock, MacLentok, MacLentock, MacLentoch, MacLentoch, and many others. Regardless of the spelling, the surname has remained significantly associated with the distinctive clan Maclean of Scotland.

Famous people with the name McLintock

• Ken McLintock: Canadian former politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer of Nova Scotia from 1978 to 1981.
• Brigadier Gordon William McLintock: Scottish-born Canadian First World War officer awarded the Military Cross for gallantry during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917.
• John McLintock: Scottish-born American lawyer and legal historian who served as mayor of Portland, Oregon from 1883 to 1877.
• Dame Elisabeth Murdoch: Australian businesswoman and philanthropist, mother of Rupert Murdoch, and wife of Keith Murdoch whose family adopted the McLintock surname.
• William McLintock: Canadian politician and barrister who served as president of the Nova Scotia Liberal Association and a Federal member of parliament from 1892 to 1896.
• Sir Cuthbert Leslie McLintock: British colonial administrator and explorer who led expeditions to New Guinea and other parts of the former British Empire.
• Patrick McLintock: Northern Irish medical professor and author who wrote numerous books on the tuberculin test, tuberculosis, and other aspects of medicine.
• Thomas McLintock: Scottish business man and chairman of multiple businesses and also Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, the Royal Dublin Society, and a Governor of the Bank of Ireland.
• Dr. Heather McLintock: Canadian Doctor of naturopathy who is specialized in integrative medicine and holistic therapies.
• Doug McLintock: American voice actor who has voiced characters for animation, film, television, and video games.

Other surnames

McLinton