Surname McMeeken - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMeeken: What does the surname McMeeken mean?
The last name McMeeken is of Scottish origin and primarily found in Northern Scotland. "Mc" is a common prefix in Scottish surnames and means "son of." The second part of the surname, "Meeken," is likely derived from a personal name or a pet name. However, the exact meaning of "Meeken" is not certain. Many Scottish surnames have been derived from Gaelic personal names, occupational names, or descriptive nicknames. The McMeeken family crest or coat of arms comes with the motto “Kinneach Aucht” which means “Buy aught.” Keep in mind that meanings of last names can be approximate since they've changed over centuries and their origins are often lost in history.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMeeken: Where does the name McMeeken come from?
The surname McMeeken is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Miadhachain" meaning son of the honorable one. The anglicization of such Gaelic names has given rise to numerous different forms and spellings, McMeeken being one of them. Scottish surnames such as this one often come from the names of ancestors, in this case suggesting the McMeekens are descendants of an honorable or respectable clan.
Despite its Scottish origin, the surname McMeeken, like many from the British Isles, has migrated elsewhere in the world. Records show bearers of this surname immigrated to the US, Australia, and New Zealand as part of the Scottish diaspora during the 18th and 19th centuries. Therefore, it's likely to come across this last name not only in Scotland but also in these countries. However, it remains a relatively rare surname, making it less common in general.
Detailed percentages of the name's geographical distribution are not readily available, but it's plausible to see clusters in regions with significant Scottish heritage due to historical immigration patterns.
Variations of the surname McMeeken
The surname McMeeken is of Irish and Scottish origin. Numerous spelling variations of the same name exist due to the translation of Gaelic names into English, causing phonetic variations. Some variant spellings include McMeekin, McMeeking, McMeekan, McMeaken. Other versions might remove the "Mc" prefix, resulting in names like Meekin, Meeken, or Meeking.
An extension of the name is M'Meekin, which was used in older records. Sometimes, the surname includes an extra consonant giving rise to variations such as McMekin or McMeckan. These names are all derived from the Gaelic MacMiadhachain, which means "son of the honorable."
Furthermore, it's important to note that the surnames' geographical or regional versions may also exist. For instance, families immigrating to different countries could have adapted their names to fit into the local language or culture, causing additional variants.
The surname McMeeken and its variants are relatively uncommon, hence, there may not be very many recognized and widespread variations beyond those already listed. However, these variants give a good representation of the different spellings you may encounter for the McMeeken surname.
Famous people with the name McMeeken
- Matt McMeeken: a professional British wrestler
- Pavel McMeeken: a British record producer
- Katie McMeeken: a Canadian actress best known for her roles in Diary of the Dead and New Moon
- Scott McMeeken: a Scottish rugby league footballer
- John McMeeken: an English soccer player
- Josh McMeeken: an English rugby union player
- Ann McMeeken: an English painter
- Darren McMeeken: an English former professional footballer
- Robin McMeeken: a British film director and screenwriter
- Meg McMeeken: an English author and illustrator