Surname McMillan - Meaning and Origin
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Q. McMillan
read moreMcMillan: What does the surname McMillan mean?
The surname McMillan is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic "MacMhaolain," which means "son of the bald or tonsured one." The "maolain" part refers to a monk, or someone who has taken a religious vow, as monks would often shave their heads (tonsure). Over time, it has evolved into the present forms such as MacMillan, McMillan, Macmillen, and others. Thus, the last name McMillan is believed to indicate a familial connection to religious servitude, specifically a heritage linked to a "son of a tonsured one" - with the tonsured one typically being a monk or a follower of the church. Furthermore, it's important to note that while the last name McMillan is widespread in Scotland, it is also found in Northern Ireland due to the historic movement of people between these regions.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMillan: Where does the name McMillan come from?
The surname McMillan is of Scottish origin, originating from a Gaelic nickname "MacMhaolain" which means "son of the bald or tonsured one". This nickname was used for someone who was a devotee of a saint. It was first found in the region of Galloway in Southern Scotland. The name was further branched into many houses which played significant roles in the tribal and national conflicts of the area.
Nowadays, McMillan is common in countries that have experienced Scottish diaspora. These include the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, it remains common in Scotland. There are variations in spelling as well, including MacMillan, MacMullan, and others. This surname has a substantial presence in Northern Ireland too, owing to the historical migration and settlement of Scottish people in the region.
Variations of the surname McMillan
The surname McMillan is of Scottish origin, it's derived from the Gaelic "MacMhaolain," which means "son of the bald or tonsured one." This surname has different spelling variations due to the translation of Gaelic names into English, regional dialects, and phonetic spellings. It can include MacMillan, Macmillan, MacMullan, MacMullen, McMullen, McMillen, McMullin, MacMullin, McMillan, McMullan, McMullon, McMylen, McMilon, McMillon and even more besides.
Sometimes, it is also anglicised as MacMullan or MacMullen, where the "Mac" means "son of," and "Mullan/Mullen" is an Irish surname. This name is mostly linked to Clan MacMillan in the Scottish Highlands. However, caution is required when associating the name with a specific clan because various unrelated families could adopt similar surnames for different reasons.
Furthermore, the prefixes 'Mac' and 'Mc' are interchangeable, as they both denote 'son of'. They were often altered based on personal preference or to conform to social norms of the time, generating more variants of the same name. This sometimes causes confusion in assigning lineage and association historically.
Overall, the vast number of spelling variants reflects the rich linguistic history of the Gaelic language and the evolution of surnames within Scottish and Irish culture.
Famous people with the name McMillan
- Tricia McMillan: Professional dancer and choreographer.
- Cheryl McMillan: Australian Olympic athlete.
- LaVerne McMillan: Writer, producer, and director for television and film.
- Jay McMillan: American physicist.
- Steve McMillan: Professional basketball player.
- Aubrey McMillan: Artist.
- Robin McMillan: British Olympic bobsledder.
- Tasha McMillan: English sprinter.
- Grant McMillan: Canadian windsurfer.
- Todd McMillan: Musician.
- Geoff McMillan: Musician and politician.
- Christopher McMillan: American hairstylist.
- Grant McMillan: Canadian singer-songwriter.
- Andrew McMillan: British poet.
- Molly McMillan: Award-winning children’s author.
- Artemio McMillan: Singer-songwriter from Mexico.
- Atholl McMillan: Australian screenwriter.
- William McMillan: Scottish lawyer and politician.
- Elizabeth McMillan: British horror author.
- George McMillan: American author and publisher.