Surname McMillain - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McMillain: What does the surname McMillain mean?
The last name McMillain is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Maoláin," which stands for "son of the tonsured one." Tonsure refers to the practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the natural hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility. Such a custom was common in medieval Europe, particularly among monks. The root of this surname, "Maolán," is an Irish word that translates to 'bald.' Therefore, it can be assumed that an ancestor of the McMillain family was a devout religious figure, a monk, or someone related to the clergy. Nonetheless, over time, spelling variations like McMillen and McMillan also emerged. Thus, McMillain embodies a rich historical religious connection and has been passed down through generations within various cultures and regions.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMillain: Where does the name McMillain come from?
The surname McMillain is of Scottish origin, formed from the Gaelic MacMhaolain, which translates to "son of the bald or tonsured one." The original bearer of the name was likely a monk or a religious devotee, given the reference to the tonsured hairstyle associated with the clergy. Some parts of this surname could also refer to a servant of St. Fillan, an Irish missionary who evangelized Scotland in the 8th century.
The surname McMillain, like many Scottish surnames, spread to other parts of the world primarily through the movement of Scottish immigrants. Today it can be found in the United States, Canada, and Australia, among other places, although the greatest concentration of people with this surname is still in Scotland. Different variations of the spelling such as McMillan or MacMillan are also common. Changes on the name happened due to phonetic spelling by immigration officers or personal choice by the individual or family when moving to English-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname McMillain
The surname McMillain is a derivative of "MacMhaolin," an ancient Irish and Scottish name that translates to "son of the bald or tonsured one," usually referring to a religious devotee. Its Anglicized forms have various spellings due to the phonetic interpretations of individual clerks or immigration officers.
The most common variants include McMillan, MacMillan, McMillen, and MacMillen. Other less frequent variations are McMullan, McMullin, McMullen, and MacMullan or McMillon. There are also similar surnames like MacMullin or MacMullen.
The prefixes Mc and Mac both denote "son of," and can be used interchangeably. The name without the prefix (Millan, Millen, Mullan, etc.) are further variations.
Moreover, the surname has been further modified in non-English speaking countries, resulting in versions like McMillano in Italy or McMillane in France.
Adding prefixes like O' or Fitz can also provide additional derivative surnames, though less common. Names could thus transform to O'McMillan or FitzMcMillan.
It's also important to keep in mind variants might incorporate additional or fewer vowels based on regional accents and translations, which might lead to further unique spellings.
Famous people with the name McMillain
- Richard McMillan: Canadian actor, director and playwright
- Robert McMillan: British artist and commercial illustrator
- John McMillan: Former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Anna McMillan: Canadian author
- Louanne McMillan: American voice actress
- Sarah McMillan: New Zealand golfer
- Trica McMillan: American indie-folk singer
- Robert McMillan: Canadian comedian and actor
- Brian McMillan: South African cricketer
- John McMillan: Scottish painter
- Keith McMillan: Northern Irish former international footballer
- Keith McMillan: South African myrmecologist (ant expert)
- Reverend Dr. Gardiner Hill McMillan: American Presbyterian minister and educator
- Michael McMillan: Irish stage, television, film and radio actor
- Dr. Deborah Kay McMillan: Former Administrator-General of India.
- Patrick McMillan: American Author and naturalist
- Sarah McMillan: Canadian television writer
- Kim McMillan: American politician from Tennessee
- Wayne McMillan: Canadian former ice hockey player
- Steven McMillan: Australian Entrepreneur and philanthropist