Surname McMeins - Meaning and Origin
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McMeins: What does the surname McMeins mean?
The surname McMeins is a variant of the Scottish-Gaelic surname McMeekin, which is of patronymic origin and was originally derived from the given name Meekin. The given name Meekin is a diminutive form of the personal name Meek, which itself derived from the Old English word ‘mycce’, meaning ‘humble’ or ‘meek’. The original bearer of the McMeins surname could therefore be described as a being somebody who was ‘humble’ or ‘meek’ by nature.
The McMeins surname spread to Scotland from Ulster in the 17th century and records of this name are found mainly in Ireland. Variations of the surname include McMeen, McCamin and McMeehan.
Today, the surname is also found in other parts of the world, such as the United States. There, it often appears in newspapers and other publications when associated with a person who has achieved something notable.
Overall, the McMeins surname is believed to have been used in the past as a way of recognizing somebody’s humble and meek nature. In modern times, the McMeins surname continues to be used to identify those individuals who demonstrate the values associated with meekness and humility.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMeins: Where does the name McMeins come from?
The last name McMeins is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It is a relatively uncommon surname, so it may be difficult to find individuals with the last name McMeins in any area.
The first known people with the surname McMeins are believed to have arrived in Ireland in 1639 from Scotland. They likely changed their family name from McMillan, and the name McMeins is derived from this ancient Scottish surname.
Since then, it has undergone several variations in spelling, including MacMein, McMean, Mac Mein, and MacMeans. Most individuals with the surname in Ireland can trace their roots to County Waterford or County Monaghan.
In the United States, the surname McMeins is much more common. The earliest immigrants with the surname are believed to have arrived in the 1600s and settled in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Today, a large number of people with this last name live in these states as well as Illinois, Florida, and California.
Canada is home to a large number of people with the surname McMeins. Most likely originated from Scotland or Ireland, and their descendants have settled in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
In Australia, the surname McMeins is also quite prevalent. Many individuals with this last name arrived in the country in the mid-to-late 19th century from Ireland and Scotland. They largely settled in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.
In the United Kingdom, the last name McMeins is not as common, with most people found mostly in Ulster and Scotland.
Overall, while the last name McMeins is not one of the most common surnames in the world, it is still found in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname McMeins
McMeins is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin, with variants and alternate spellings such as MacMeans, MacMeenes, MacMains, MacMeans, MacMeens, and MacMinis.
The original spelling of the Irish Gaelic and Scottish surname is Mac meanma, meaning ‘son of the little hero’. The Gaelic spelling is Mac meanmaí which is the dominant form of the surname in modern-day Ireland and Scotland.
In some areas of Ireland, particularly in the Irish diaspora in the United States, the surname is sometimes spelled Macmeans, Mcmeins, Macmeens, or MacMains. Other spellings of the Irish and Scottish name are MacMinis, Macmine, and Macmeene.
The surname is thought to be of Scottish descent, and is found in Scotland in the form of Macminnies and Macminis. In The United States, the surname is more commonly found spelled as McMeins and MacMeens, though many alternate spellings still exist. Variants of the name can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as France and Germany.
McMeins is often confused with other Irish and Scottish names such as McReynolds, McMasters, and McMullen. However, they are distinct surnames that have evolved separately in their native places.
It can be seen that the McMeins family has travelled from its Scottish and Irish roots to other parts of the world, with many slight variations on spelling. The name has survived to the present day, where it is still used by a number of people of Scottish and Irish descent.
Famous people with the name McMeins
- Boyd McMeins: American professional golfer
- Loren McMeins: Medal of Honor recipient from World War II
- Keith McMeins: American professional basketball player
- Anna McMeins: German-born American entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Dean McMeins: American actor and comedian
- Jessica McMeins: American television screenwriter and producer
- Kenneth McMeins: American actor
- Michael McMeins: American footballer
- Stephen McMeins: Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Nathan McMeins: Canadian Indepedent Film producer.