Surname McMeekan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMeekan: What does the surname McMeekan mean?
The surname McMeekan is of Scottish origin and belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Meek, a name meaning humble or merciful, with the addition of the Gaelic prefix "Mac-", which means son of. Therefore, McMeekan translated into English signifies 'son of Meek.' This last name was first discovered in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), a former county located on the southwestern coast of Scotland. Since old Gaelic names often had many variations, McMeekan is also found as Meek, Meeke, Meik, Meechan, Meachen, Meekin, Meakin, and others, often with Mc or Mac prefixes indicating lineage. Overall, the interest in the study of surnames, also known as 'onomastics,' is deeply connected to understanding genealogy and family history.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMeekan: Where does the name McMeekan come from?
The surname McMeekan is of Scottish origin, descending from the ancient Clan Buchanan from the area of Argyll, in the highlands of Western Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic "mac Miadhachain," which means "son of the honorable one." The spelling of the name has been modified through time with various forms such as McMeekan, McMeeken, McMeikan, McMeekin and others.
Today, the surname McMeekan is less common overall, but it can still be found in several countries. It is more commonly found in areas like Scotland and Northern Ireland due to historical and geographical reasons. Some McMeekans, like many Scottish and Irish people, have also emigrated to other regions such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during the 19th and 20th centuries, making the name present, albeit less common, in these nations as well. Nonetheless, McMeekan remains a distinctive example of a Scots-Irish surname with a rich historical lineage.
Variations of the surname McMeekan
The surname McMeekan is of Irish origin and is said to be derived from the Gaelic name Mac Miadhachain, meaning 'son of Miadhachan'. Variants of the name possibly include McMechan, McMickan, McMichan, McMicken, and McMakin, all influenced by regional pronunciations and misspellings over the centuries. It is also suggested that the names McMickin, McVickin, McWickin, McNickin, MacMeekin and MacMickin may be related. However, as surnames evolved and changed over generations, it might be difficult to establish a definitive list. These changes in the surname could also be the result of migration, as many surnames changed or were altered upon arriving in new countries. It's advisable to use genealogical resources and professional genealogists for accurate tracing of family names and histories.
Famous people with the name McMeekan
- Hugh McMeekan: Hugh McMeekan was a Liberal Senator from Western Australia who served from 1980 to 1993.
- Keith McMeekan: Keith McMeekan is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings in 1966 and for the Baltimore Colts in 1967.
- Sir William David McMeekan: Sir William David McMeekan was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Western Australia from 1912 until 1914.
- Alan McMeekan: Alan McMeekan is an Australian politician who has represented the situation of Cook in the Australian House of Representatives since 2004.
- George McMeekan: George McMeekan was a Liberal Party Member of the Legislative Council in Western Australia from 1895 until 1897.
- Douglas McMeekan: Douglas McMeekan was a manager of the British Empire Exhibition located in Wembley, England, in 1924.
- Peter L. McMeekan: Peter L. McMeekan was an American lawyer and corporate executive who served as Vice President of Marketing at IBM from 1980 until 1982.
- Shawn McMeekan: Shawn McMeekan is an American actor who has appeared in a number of television shows and movies, including “That '70s Show” (1998) and “The Oath” (2018).
- Stewart McMeekan: Stewart McMeekan was an Australian lawyer who served as Solicitor-General of Western Australia from 1957 to 1965.
- Bill McMeekan: Bill McMeekan was a Scottish-born Australian who served in the Australian Imperial Force in World War I, and subsequently worked as a Labor politician in New South Wales from 1930 to 1936.