Surname McMeken - Meaning and Origin

McMeken: What does the surname McMeken mean?

The last name McMeken does not have a specific, documented meaning available in public resources or historical records. It appears to be of Scottish or Irish origin based on the prefix "Mc," which denotes patronymic names in these cultures and means "son of." The second part, "Meken," does not correlate with any known words or names in these languages. The exact meaning of McMeken may be lost to history, known only to family members, or never assigned a particular meaning. Exact meanings of surnames can shift over time and vary based on geographical location, family history, and language evolution. Considering its structure, it can be concluded that McMeken might have meant "son of Meken" but who or what Meken refers to is not defined. It's important to consider that surname meanings can be broad and not cling to literal interpretations.

McMeken: Where does the name McMeken come from?

The surname McMeken appears to be of Scottish origin. It's derived from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Mheachain, meaning “son of (a man named) Meaghan.” This personal name Meaghan is similar to an Irish word 'méadhan' that translates to 'middle'. Given the various ways Gaelic names have been translated and spelled over centuries, it's possible that McMeken had other spellings in the past.

Like many surnames of Gaelic origin, it can be difficult to trace the exact lineage or origin point of the McMeken name because of historical changes to spelling as well as the migration of peoples. Although it's hard to establish where the name is specifically prevalent today, it's reasonable to assume that it might be found more often in countries with large populations of people of Scottish descent such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It appears to be a fairly rare surname, hence its distribution may be quite scattered and less common compared to other Scottish surnames. A thorough search of global databases and genealogical records could provide a more comprehensive view of its current spread.

Variations of the surname McMeken

The surname McMeken has several variants and spellings that are possibly due to regional accents, misinterpretations, and changes over time. These can also depend on the geographical location and cultural influence. While tracing the surname, it is also important to consider phonetic spelling used in various records, like census, birth, and death certificates throughout history.

Some possible variants and spellings of McMeken could include McMeekin, McMeeken, McMeakin, McMeekan, and McMeeking. There is also a chance that the names Macken, Meeken, Meakin, Meekin, and Mekins could be related due to similar spellings and phonetic sounds.

Also, since "Mc" in Irish and Scottish names means "son of", it's possible that this name may be related or derived from the surname Meeken or Meekin, pointing to the potential origin meaning "son of Meek" or "son of Meeken".

However, please note that surnames can be extremely complex and diverse, and may have multiple origins, meanings, and spellings. Therefore, professional genealogical research may be needed to definitively establish the variations and origin of the surname McMeken.

Famous people with the name McMeken

• Jesse McMeken: Professional Bass Fisher
• John McMeken: US Colonel, Vietnam War veteran
• Norm McMeken: American singer and songwriter
• Colleen McMeken: American author
• Morris McMeken: Canadian musician and record producer
• Don McMeken: American college basketball coach
• Kyle McMeken: Canadian ice hockey player
• Jody McMeken: American television personality
• Doug McMeken III: American financial advisor
• Toni McMeken: Irish singer and songwriter

Other surnames

McMekin