Surname McMehen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMehen: What does the surname McMehen mean?
The last name McMehen is derived from the Irish surname Mac Meitheamhain (meaning "son of Meitheamhain"). The name was Anglicised to MacMeakin, MacMakin and then McMehen. It is a variant of the surname MacMeekin, which is itself of Scottish origin. The Scottish MacMeekin name is a form of the Gaelic Mac Mhic Dhomhnuill, meaning "son of the son of Donald".
The name McMehen is first found in the county of Down in Northern Ireland. Records show that the McMehen families travelled to the county sometime in the mid-1800s and settled there. Many members of the McMehen family went on to become involved in the linen industry in the 19th and early 20th century, providing much needed employment in the rural counties of Ulster.
Today, the McMehens are spread throughout the world, with family members located in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia. They are still most common in Northern Ireland, where the traditions of the family are still honored. The McMehen family name stands for loyalty, hardwork, and dedication, and is a testament to the courage and determination of those who left their homeland in search of a better life.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMehen: Where does the name McMehen come from?
The surname McMehen is not widely recognized or common, and could potentially be a variation or misspelling of the surname McMeekin, McMahan, McMenamin, or similar sounding names. McMehen doesn't appear to have a specific country of origin, so its roots are uncertain. It could possibly be of Irish or Scottish origin, like many surnames that begin with "Mc", but without further information or historical records, it's hard to be sure.
Today, it doesn’t seem to be common or prevalent in any particular region. This could be due to changes in the name over time or a small number of initial bearers. Further genealogical research would be required to establish its history and lineage more accurately.
Variations of the surname McMehen
The surname McMehen is not considered a common surname and it is unclear of its origins. It could be a variation of Scottish or Irish Mc surnames which generally mean "son of." This could possibly include surnames like McMeekin, McMenamin, or McMahan. However, McMehen might also be a derivation or misspelling of these traditional names caused by illiteracy, transcription errors, or phonetic spelling among immigrants.
Exact variants or spellings of the surname McMehen are hard to pinpoint due to its rarity. It could be McMahon, McMenamin, McMahan, MacMenamin, McMeekin, McMinn, or other similar surnames. These names could potentially change further with common modifications or regional dialects influencing their spelling over generations. Variations may include McMahon, MacMahon, McMahon, McMann, McMean, McMenamin, McManamon and others.
Please note that this information is speculative based on similarities in phonetics and Irish/Scottish surname conventions. For a definitive answer regarding the variants, spellings, and surname origins of "McMehen", professional genealogical research would be necessary.
Famous people with the name McMehen
- Johnny McMehen: Professional basketball player for Portugal's CAB Madeira (formerly at the University of Missouri-St. Louis).
- Aisling McMehen: Professional Irish basketball player, currently playing for Élan Chalon in the Ligue Féminine de Basketball (France).
- Christopher McMehen: Former professional golfer who was a member of the United States Ryder Cup Team in 1995.
- Errol McMehen: British sprinter who has competed in the 200 m and 400 m events.
- Ewan McMehen: Scottish ice-skater, and a Star of Ice.
- Margaret McMehen: Late New Zealand All Black international rugby player who represented the team between 1956 and 1959.
- Mark McMehen: Canadian professional squash player, ranked in the top 25 in the world.
- Anne McMehen: Author of children's books, best known for the Applejack series.
- Mary McMehen: Photographer, particularly focused on urban and nature landscapes.
- Eric McMehen: American professional wake-boarder and stunt performer.
- Keith McMehen: British painter and sculptor, whose works are featured in several galleries around the world.
- Tim McMehen: Publisher and editor-in-chief of AirFare Magazine.
- Iain McMehen: Owner of Home and Garden Interiors in the UK.
- Derek McMehen: Lead guitarist and vocalist for the Southern US rock band, The Midnight Choir.
- Rhys McMehen: English rugby league player who plays for Hull FC in the Super League.