Surname McMallen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMallen: What does the surname McMallen mean?
The surname McMallen is of Scottish origin and is believed to have originated from the Gaelic Mac Maoláin, with "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Maoláin" referring to a devotee or a follower. Thus, the name may be translated as "son of the follower or devotee". This could suggest religious roots, indicating that the person's ancestors might have been dedicated worshippers or servants of a particular deity or saint. Like many surnames, throughout history, McMallen would have served as a means to identify specific lineage or families in a specific region. It's also important to note the variations in McMallen spellings like MacMullen, McMullen, and McMillan among others, due to regional and phonetic influences.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMallen: Where does the name McMallen come from?
The surname McMallen is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Maoláin," which means "son of the follower of St. John." The prefix "Mac" in Gaelic means "son of" and "maoláin" can be broken down into "maol" or "follower" and St. John as the religious figure being followed.
Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of the surname have been anglicized into McMallen. As with the case of most Irish surnames, spelling variations such as MacMallen, MacMillan, MacMillen, and MacMillan can also be encountered.
Today, the surname McMallen can be found in countries where Irish diaspora settled, specifically the United States, Canada, and Australia, with a considerable number of bearers in Ireland and the UK. However, it is not commonly ranked among the most popular surnames and therefore may not have large population concentrations in specific locations.
Variations of the surname McMallen
The surname McMallen has roots in Irish and Scottish heritage and is believed to be derived from the Gaelic "Mac Maoláin," indicating "son or descendant of a devotee of Saint Fillan." The surname McMallen is often considered a variant of the surname McMullen.
The variations in spelling and different forms of this surname primarily stem from anglicization over the years and regional differences. These variations can include McMullen, McMillan, MacMillan, McMillen, McMillin, MacMullan, McMullin, MacMullen, McMellon, and McMillon.
In addition to these, the use of the 'Mc' and 'Mac' can often be interchangeably used in many Irish or Scottish surnames. Here, 'Mac' signifies 'son of'. Subsequently, the prefix 'Mc' is utilized in exactly the same way. Therefore, the McMallen surname could be spelled as MacMallen.
The surname McMahon is another variant of the surname McMallen. However, it is essential to recognize the distinctions since they can occasionally indicate different family branches or even different origins altogether.
Moreover, it's crucial to consider that various surnames may sound alike but differ in their spelling. Surnames can change over time and can also be modified due to migration, leading to variations.
Famous people with the name McMallen
- Ewan Mcallen: Scottish actor who is well-known for his role in the Star Wars franchise, playing Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- Alice Mcallen: American actress best known for her role in the television series Scrubs.
- David Mcallen: British actor who is best known for his role in the Harry Potter series as Sirius Black.
- Darren McMallen − Australian actor who is best known for his role in the television series Neighbours.
- Andrew McMallen: Canadian actor and musician, best known for his roles in The Terminator franchise and films such as Jurassic Park, The Mentalist and Transformers.
- Jessica McMallen: American fashion model and actress, best known for her roles in the television series Gossip Girl and The O.C.
- Rosemary McMallen: Canadian comedian, best known for her appearances on the late-night talk show Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
- Ryan McMallen: American baseball player, who currently plays for the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball (MLB).
- Bill McMallen: American singer-songwriter, best known as the frontman of the musical group Alice In Chains.
- Pete McMallen: Irish folk musician, best known as the frontman of the traditional Irish group, The Dubliners.