Surname McMilan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMilan: What does the surname McMilan mean?
The surname McMilan is of Scottish origin and is a variant of the surname McMillan. The word "Mac" or "Mc" in Celtic language means 'son of', so McMilan means 'son of Millan'. The name Millan itself is derived from the Old Gaelic personal name "Maolán", a diminutive of "maol", meaning bald or tonsured. In a religious context, it means 'one who serves a tonsured person', essentially a monk or a disciple. More generally, the last name McMilan could signify a religious association or being a follower of a religious leader. Over time, it has evolved into a family surname used by a number of individuals and families. Like other surnames, it has various spellings including McMillan, MacMillan, Macmillen, and McMillen. Despite its variations, the meaning remains the same. Surnames like McMilan were originally used for distinguishing individuals with the same first name, but gradually became fixed and were passed down to the next generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMilan: Where does the name McMilan come from?
The last name McMilan has origins in Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic MacMhaolain, which means 'son of the bald or tonsured one,' mainly implying 'son of the servant or devotee.' This surname is prevalent in gaelic-speaking regions and directly connects to Saint Maelan, an Irish saint of the 7th century. From the Highlands of Scotland, the surname spread to Irish regions through clan migrations and was also adapted into the form MacMillan.
Today, the McMilan surname is most common in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, in addition to Scotland and Ireland. It's less commonplace in non-English speaking countries, but can still be found due to historical migration patterns. In America, the largest concentrations of individuals bearing the McMilan surname are in southern states such as Texas, Florida, and Georgia, with smaller clusters found throughout the nation.
Variations of the surname McMilan
The surname McMilan primarily originates from Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is often associated with clans and has Gaelic roots. The "Mc" prefix means "son of," while "Milan" is thought to come from "Maolain," which means a tonsured or bald person, often referring to a religious person or monk.
Alternative spellings and variations of the surname McMilan could include McMillan, McMillen, McMullan, McMullin, McMillon, McMullen, MacMillan, MacMullan, and MacMullen.
These variations can occur due to regional accents, translation between Gaelic, English, and Scots language, and discrepancies in record-keeping. Differences might also arise due to migration and consequent changes for easier pronunciation, or to assimilate within a certain society or culture.
The surname could also be anglicized or Americanized into similar surnames such as Miller or Millan.
Additionally, prefixes such as the Mac, Mc, or simply ‘M’ before the name can sometimes be interchangeable, thus leading to more variations. For example, the name could sometimes be spelled as M'Millan or M’Milan.
Lastly, the use of the prefix or lack thereof could also lead to variants such as simply Millan, Millen, Milon or Mullan.
Famous people with the name McMilan
- Alice McMillan: English singer and songwriter
- J.T. McMillan: American stage and screen actor
- Frankie Mcmillan: professional MMA fighter
- Steve MacMillan: Canadian businessman
- Donald McMillan: British politician
- Tom McMillan: Canadian writer
- Marlon McMillan: Canadian professional basketball player
- Ian McMillan: British Performance Poet
- Neil McMillan: British footballer 10.Paul McMillan: American artist
- Will McMillan: American actor
- John McMillan: Scottish minister
- Ashley McMillan: American film and television producer
- James McMillan: Scottish field hockey player
- Mark McMillan: American football player