Surname McMeckan - Meaning and Origin

McMeckan: What does the surname McMeckan mean?

The surname "McMeckan" is of Scottish origin and it is a variant of "MacMeekin", which itself derives from the Scottish Gaelic name "Mac Miadhachain". The prefix "Mac" in Scottish and Irish names means 'son of', indicating a patronymic origin, meaning it was derived from the name of a person's father or a very early ancestor. The second part, "Meekin" or "Miadhachain", is a diminutive of the Gaelic first name "Miadhach", which translates to 'honorable' or 'noble’. Therefore, the surname McMeckan could be interpreted to mean 'the son of the honorable or noble one'. However, precise interpretation can vary and it should be noted that surname meanings can evolve over centuries and may not fully reflect the modern usage or understanding of the name. Another complication is regional variation in spelling and pronunciation, due to geographic dispersion and migration of families.

McMeckan: Where does the name McMeckan come from?

The surname McMeckan is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic MacMiadhachain. It is an anglicized form of this Gaelic name which translates to "son of Miadhachain." Variations of this surname include McMechan, McMicken, and McMichan among others. The surname, like many other surnames of Gaelic origin, indicates patrilineal descent, suggesting that an original bearer of this surname was the son of a man named Miadhachain.

Currently, McMeckan is not a common last name and it is dispersed around the globe due to emigration, especially during the time of the Highland Clearances in Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries when many people were forced to leave their homes. It is particularly found in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. However, even in these countries, it is still relatively rare. Due to the anglicization of the surname, it may be more common to find its various phonetic equivalents.

Variations of the surname McMeckan

The McMeckan surname is of Scottish origin and quite unique, making variants less common. However, it could potentially have alternative spellings as McMechan or McMekan. Similar Scottish surnames include McMahon, McKeegan, McKenna and McKenzie.

It might be possible that McMeckan was altered or anglicized from an original Gaelic name during the migration of Scots to other parts of the British Isles or further afield. Some similar Gaelic surnames include MacEacháin (equivalent to McEachan), Mac Meigaidh (McMeek), and Mac Menamin (McMenamin).

The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" in Scottish and Irish names signifies "son of", so these names originally would have referred to the son of Meckan, Mechan, or a similarly-named individual. This makes it more challenging to pinpoint exact variants, as the original name could have evolved in various ways over the centuries.

It's also important to note the variations may occur due to phonetic spellings from immigration documents or censuses. Regionally, accents and pronunciations could influence the spelling too.

Please note, an exploratory study can be done in genealogical research to find more variants or origins of the surname. Most importantly, DNA testing can also provide more insights to the lineage.

Famous people with the name McMeckan

• Malcolm McMeckan: a British politician who was a Member of the European Parliament for the Conservative Party.
• Chris McMeckan: a professional stuntman and aerial artist from Scotland.
• Scott McMeckan: an award-winning Scottish actor who is best known for his roles in TV series such as Broke and The Musketeers.
• Drew McMeckan: an Australian endurance athlete and mountaineer who has reached the summit of Mount Everest three times.
• Kelly McMeckan: an award-winning Scottish actress, appearing in shows such as The Borgias, Coronation Street, Father Brown, and Outlaw King.
• John McMeckan: an American writer and director of several documentaries and films, such as Sheepish: The True Story of a White Collar Criminal, A Litany of Dangers, and Kokoro.
• Jackie McMeckan: a renowned Canadian artist with works in galleries across North America.
• Frank McMeckan: a Scottish soccer player who plays for the Scottish national team.
• Daisy McMeckan: a successful British fashion designer who has been noted as one of the top designers of her generation.
• Fiona McMeckan: an Irish painter and sculptor whose work has been exhibited in galleries all over the world.

Other surnames

McMeckin