Surname McClarnen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McClarnen: What does the surname McClarnen mean?
The surname McClarnen is of Irish origin and it is an anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Cláracháin, which roughly translates to 'son of Clárachán'. The exact meaning of Clárachán is unclear as it isn't a commonly used word or name in modern Irish. It may be a diminutive form of some other name or possibly related to the Irish word 'clár', meaning a plain or plateau. Common in Ulster, this surname has many variant spellings including McClarnon, McLearnon, McLernon, and more. Like many Irish surnames, the 'Mc' prefix indicates 'son of'. Therefore, in this context, McClarnen signifies 'descendant of Clárachán'. Please note that the exact interpretation of surnames can vary and might not provide a definitive meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisMcClarnen: Where does the name McClarnen come from?
The surname McClarnen is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Clárigh, meaning 'son of Clárech'. The name likely holds patronymic roots tracing back to a male ancestor named Clárech, possibly a cleric. However, over time and with geographical movements, the name saw alterations like McClarnon, McClarnin, and ultimately McClarnen. It's strongly tied to the history and cultural heritage of the Irish Gaelic communities.
Today, this surname is not very common, and its bearers are widely dispersed. The largest concentrations of people with the last name McClarnen can be found in the United States, particularly in regions with substantial Irish diaspora communities. Yet it remains relatively rare even in these communities. It is also occasionally found in other English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, as a result of Irish migration to those countries. In Ireland itself, the name has survived but isn't common, as many Irish surnames have become significantly less prevalent due to historical factors such as the Great Famine and emigration.
Variations of the surname McClarnen
The surname McClarnen has its origins in Scottish and Irish heritage, coming from the Gaelic name "MacLaren" which means "son of Lawrence."
This surname has various spellings and variations, which often resulted from an attempt to phonetically spell the names in English given the absence of standardized spelling. These include: McClarnon, McLarnon, MacLarnon, McLearnen, McLarnen, McLernon, McLernan, MacLernon and MacLernan.
Sometimes, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" (meaning 'son of') is dropped, leading to variants like Larnen, Larnon, Lernon, Lernan, Learnen. Additionally, the name can be anglicized into Lawrence or Laurens.
The surname may also present longer forms, like McClarence or McLarence, which are less common but still trace back to the same origins. In certain regions, phonetic variants based on local dialects pop up, like McClaran or McLaran.
It's important to remember that the use of different spellings does not necessarily indicate different family lines- they could just be various ways of spelling the same original surname.
Famous people with the name McClarnen
- Jay McClarnen: American visual effects supervisor
- Al McClarnen: American former professional basketball player
- Chris McClarnen: American politician and lawyer
- Barry McClarnen: Scottish former professional footballer
- Lisa McClarnen: American coach, teacher, and former championship swimmer
- Eric McClarnen: Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Scott McClarnen: American composer
- Marcia McClarnen: American actress
- Clarke McClarnen: American actor
- Brenda McClarnen: Canadian public affairs officer
- Steve McClarnen: American politician and former mayor of Indianapolis
- Frank McClarnen: American actor
- Gary McClarnen: American actor and writer
- Karen McClarnen: American artist
- Jeff McClarnen: American film producer