Surname Millican - Meaning and Origin

Millican: What does the surname Millican mean?

The surname Millican is of Scottish origin and comes from an ancient Scottish region named "Millicant." It is derived from the Gaelic name "Maolagan," which translates to "bald," suggesting that it may have originally been a nickname for a bald man. In old Gaelic, "maol" refers to something bald or bare and the suffix "an" is an endearment which would translate to "one who is dear or beloved." Over time, the pronunciation and spelling have changed, developing into the modern surname Millican. It became more widespread due to Scottish migration to other parts of the world. Like many surnames, Millican may also be a locality name, signifying an individual who originated from a place named Millican. Therefore, the surname essentially denotes 'the beloved one' from the region of Millicant.

Millican: Where does the name Millican come from?

The surname Millican has multiple origins. It's thought to derive from the Hebrew personal name Milcah, meaning "queen," brought to Britain during the Middle Ages by the Normans. The Millican surname may also be of English origin, specifically from northern England, where a place called Millom, meaning "at the mills," was located. In any case, the surname began as a patronymic or locational name.

Today, the Millican surname is common in English-speaking countries like the United States, England, and Australia. In the United States, it is most prevalent in Texas. However, despite its widespread dispersal, it is not a very common surname. The surname has had various spelling forms throughout history, including Millican, Milligan, Milliken, Millikin, Mullikin, and others, contributing to its spread.

Variations of the surname Millican

The surname Millican has several variants and derivations, mainly due to regional differences, phonetic spellings, and transcription errors over time. The primary variant of this surname is Milligan. Milliken, Millikin, Miliken, Milikin, Milican, Millikan, Millcan are other noted variants.

The surname Millican is believed to have Scottish and Northern Irish origins. It is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Maolagain", which means "descendant of the bald one'' or ''descendant of the follower of St. John". Therefore, some other surnames sharing the same origin might be Maolagan, Mullican, Maolagáin, and even Mulligan.

Another possible origin might be English, from a place called Milliken in Renfrewshire or from Milliken, a variant of Millington. Millington is a habitational name from places in Cheshire or East Yorkshire, so named from an Old English personal name 'Mylen(tun)', and 'tun', meaning settlement.

It's important to note that the numerous spellings of Millican have appeared over time depending on the phonetic interpretations, transcription errors, or even personal preferences. Therefore, the exact number of variants is hard to determine.

Famous people with the name Millican

• Sarah Millican: British comedian, actress and presenter
• Jenna Millican: English tennis player
• Tony Millican: American football player
• Peter Millican: English Professor of Philosophy
• Jettie Millican: Former Lieutenant Governor of Florida
• Cyndi Millican: American line producer and television executive
• Josh Millican: American football player
• David Millican: American sculptor
• Mitch Millican: Professional golfer, multiple PGA Tour winner
• Holly Millican: Professional cricket player for the England women's team

Other surnames

Millich