Surname McTurnan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McTurnan: What does the surname McTurnan mean?
The last name McTurnan is of Irish origin, stemming from ancient Gaelic cultures. It is a variant of the surname MacTiernan, which is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Tighearnain". In Gaelic, "Mac" denotes "son of" and "Tighearnain" is an old Gaelic personal name derived from "tighearna" meaning "lord" or "master". Hence, McTurnan can be interpreted to mean "son of the lord or master". It's important to note that the spelling of Irish surnames can vary greatly, with prefixes like 'Mac' and 'Mc' often used interchangeably. These variations often arose due to changes in language and translation errors over the centuries. Furthermore, many different families might adopt the same surname, especially one denoting such a status as "son of the lord or master", meaning not all McTurnans are necessarily related. Like many surnames, tracing the exact lineage and derivation can be complex due to these factors. Today, those bearing the surname McTurnan can be found in various countries around the world, particularly those with strong historical connections to Irish immigration such as the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMcTurnan: Where does the name McTurnan come from?
McTurnan is an Irish surname, thought to be derived from the Gaelic Mac Tiarnan, meaning "son of the lord or master." The surname has a few variations including McTiernan, McTernan, and MacTiernan. It was first found in County Cavan, located in Northern Ireland. The surname dates back to the medieval period, marking it as one of the older family names in Ireland.
Nowadays, it is still concentrated in Ireland, particularly in areas where families have held a family seat from ancient times. However, due to historical migrations and the Irish diaspora, the name can also be found in other countries. Many individuals with the last name McTurnan, like many other Irish families, were part of the large waves of emigration during the time of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. This led to the spread of the surname to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Therefore, today it's likely you could find individuals bearing this surname in these countries as well.
Variations of the surname McTurnan
The surname McTurnan is of Irish origin and belongs to a large group of surnames derived from the popular Gaelic clan names in Ireland. Not surprisingly, you can find some different spelling variations due to the phonetic translation from Gaelic to English.
Some variants and spellings of McTurnan include: McTernan, Mcternan, MacTernan, Macternan, McTernen, Mcternen, MacTernen, Macternen, McTurnin, McTurnen, Mcturnen, and Mcturnin.
Occasionally, the prefix "Mc" or "Mac," which signifies 'son of,' may be dropped or modified, resulting in more variations like Ternan, Ternen, Turnan and Turnen.
It's worth noting that surname can further evolve and adjust with inter-marriage, migration, and regional accents, leading to entirely different surnames that may still trace their origin back to McTurnan or its Gaelic root. These adjustments can sometimes make it difficult to establish definitive links between the specific variations.
Making a genealogical research would offer more precise and potential spelling variations or related surnames specific to one's family history.
Famous people with the name McTurnan
- Colby McTurnan: an American animation producer/director whose credits include 'The Simpsons', 'The Boondocks', and 'Rolling Kansas'
- Gregory McTurnan: an American comic book creator who worked for Marvel, DC, IDW, Darkhorse, and Brainstorm Comics
- Dwight McTurnan: an American country and gospel singer who released two albums in the 1970s
- comics artist Kurt McTurnan: known for his work on 'The Flash', 'Justice League', 'Young Justice', and 'Aquaman'
- Tom McTurnan: a Scottish professional footballer who played for many clubs in the UK and the North American Soccer League
- John McTurnan: an American politician who served as the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
- William McTurnan: an American judge who served as a United States District Court judge from 1972-1984
- Paul McTurnan: an American businessman and industrialist who was a major focus of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1889
- Leslie McTurnan: a Canadian journalist and editor who was the executive editor of the Vancouver Sun
- Brendan McTurnan: a Canadian actor, director, and producer who works with animated films and television shows