Surname McMan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMan: What does the surname McMan mean?
The last name McMan is a variant of the Irish surname McMahon, which is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mathghamhna", meaning "son of bear". The McMan family lineage is said to date back to the 4th century, with the family originally from County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. The name McMahon is traditional in County Monaghan in Northern Ireland as well. This last name symbolizes a connection to ancient Celtic nobility and a lineage that includes warriors, lords, and chieftains. Like many Irish surnames, McMan underwent various changes throughout the centuries with different English spellings becoming more common, including McMahone and McMahen.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMan: Where does the name McMan come from?
The surname McMan is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish "Mac Mhanais," which means "son of Manasseh." Names that began with "Mac" or "Mc" were often patronymic in nature, signifying that the person was the son of someone else.
McMan, like many Irish surnames, would have been widely disseminated during the period of the Irish diaspora in the 19th century when many Irish people emigrated to other parts of the world due to famine and other hardships. Many Irish surnames, including McMan, can now be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and England.
It is hard to precisely determine where the McMan surname is most common today due to variations and changes in spelling. However, there's still a considerable presence of the surname in Ireland and in countries with significant populations of Irish descent, such as the United States. Please note that it is not a very common surname, with only a few hundred instances worldwide.
Variations of the surname McMan
The surname "McMan" is of Scottish or Irish origin. It originates from the Gaelic Mac Mathghamhna, which means "son of bear." Variations and spellings of the surname can include McManus, MacMann, MacMan, MacManus, MacMahon, McMahon, MacMahan, McMahan, and McMahen.
The surname's change in spelling over centuries can be attributed to various factors such as regional accents and illiteracy. Different branches of the family may have chosen to spell their surname differently, leading to the variety of spellings we have today.
The prefix Mc or Mac typically means "son of," while "Man" or "Manus" refers to the ancestor with that specific given name. Therefore, all variants essentially carry the same meaning: son of Manus (Magnus) or son of the bear.
English translations of the surname also exist, such as Mathews or Matthews, deriving from the translation of "Mathghamhna" to "bear" and eventually to "Matthew."
Surname variations can also extend to those without the prefix, like Manus, Mann, Mannus, Mahon. Therefore, these surnames may also be related by origin. However, genealogical research would be required to confirm any family connection.
Famous people with the name McMan
- Darren McManus: an American ice hockey center
- Doug McManamny: a former Australian rules football player
- Darrin McManus: a former New Zealand professional basketball player
- Kathy McManus: an American professional golfer
- Michael McManus: an American film producer and actor
- Joseph McManus: an American figure skater
- Joseph McManus Jr.: an American former basketball player
- Peter McManus: an Irish actor and screenwriter
- Richard McManus: an English cricketer
- Sandy McManus: an Australian politician and former police officer.