MacClean Surname

1,658,108th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 120 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
United States Virgin Islands

MacClean Surname Definition:

MaCcleane. Forms of Maclean, which see, current in Ayrshire. John M'Cleane, merchant burgess, Irvine, 1666 (Irvine, II, p. 200).

MacClean Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States511:7,107,038327,397
Nigeria281:6,326,527151,186
England101:5,571,806158,774
Canada51:7,369,118289,406
Ghana41:6,755,17315,406
Ireland41:1,177,23516,494
United States Virgin Islands31:36,7924,502
Australia21:13,497,850222,987
Nicaragua11:6,021,0908,768
Zimbabwe11:15,438,240133,260
South Africa11:54,177,704343,732
Scotland11:5,353,81763,002
Saint Kitts and Nevis11:55,1991,294
Russia11:144,123,056881,408
Panama11:3,912,25817,195
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
France11:66,422,722504,397
Costa Rica11:4,780,06913,345
Bermuda11:65,2793,010
Argentina11:42,743,414282,706
Northern Ireland11:1,845,03620,648
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland21:2,214,93333,683
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States71:7,174,098302,835

MacClean (20) may also be a first name.

MacClean Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

MaCcleane. Forms of Maclean, which see, current in Ayrshire. John M'Cleane, merchant burgess, Irvine, 1666 (Irvine, II, p. 200).

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Ayrshire). Gaelic Mac Gille Eoin, earlier Mac Ghill' Eathain, 'son of the servant of (S.) John.' in the Gaelic genealogical ms. of 1467 the name is spelled Gilleain, and in the M'Vurich ms. Giolla-eoin (Rel. Celt., II, p. 174). Eoin is the classic form of John in Gaelic, but Iain is now more commonly used. The l is all that remains of gille. The derivation of the name (Legends, p. 306) from Leth-aoin 'twin,' in allusion to the double origin of the clan, and the translation of the name by Lachlan Maclean (author of Adhamh agus Eubh, Edinburgh, 1837), as 'son of a lion,' are instances of 'the Gaelic itch for etymologising.' Collectively the clan is Clann 'ic 'ill Eathain. Gilmore Maclyn of the county of Perth rendered homage, 1296. The seal attached to his homage bears a stag's head cabossed, S' Gilmore Macgylecho (Bain, II, p. 200,532). In 1326 there is entry of a payment of eight codri of cheese to eight men of John and Neil, sons of Gilhon, and mention is also made of the ship of Dofnald M'Gilhon (misrinted M'Gilbon) which made the circuit of 'le Mole' (Mull) (ER., I, p. 57). In the preface to ER. (I, p. lxxiii) mention is made of Dofnald, Neil, and John, the three sons of Gilhon -the youngest of them the ancestor of the Macleans of Duart. Nigel M'Gillon, custodian of the Castle of Scraburgh, 1329 (ER., I, p. 238). Lachlan M'Gilleon was dominus de Duvayrd, 1436 (Cawdor, p. 13), and John M'Gilleoin, dominus de Lochbuye, witnessed a charter by Angus, Master of the Isles, 1485. Lauchlan M'Leand was fiar of Torloisk, 1674 (HP., I). Walter Malynne (=Maclean), abbot of Glenluce, 1517-45 (Rusk, History of parish and abbey of Glenluce, Edinburgh, 1930, p. 140). In Tiree this surname outnumbers all others in the island. An old spelling in Perthshire was M'Olaine. John M'lnlay Roy V'Oleane in Kirktoun, a Glenurquhay vassal, 1638 (BBT., p. 403). Donald M'Olloine in Sunniboil, Mull, 1674 (HP., I, p. 279). Alexander McKlane, resident in parish of Borgue, 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. IX, p. 568), and William M'KIin is recorded in Mains, Sanquhar, 1697. Macleans are numerous in Prussia, where some call themselves 'of Coll' (Fischer, II, p. 151), and John Maclean, son of the laird of Dowart, who made a large fortune in Sweden and greatly aided in the building of the city of Gothenburg, was ennobled by Queen Christina in 1649 under the name of Makeleen (SHR., XXV, p. 290). John Maclean (1787-1848), the Tiree bard, spells his name MacIlleain in the 1818 edition of his Poems, and in the Antigonish edition of 1856 it appears as MacGilleathain. Mackcline, MackCleiden, Mackelein, Macglen and Makclen 1588; Macklayne, Maklayne, and Makelyne 1536; Macklen 1680; Macgillane 1527; Macgillelane 1500; M'Claine and M'Clean 1674; M'Clane 1514; M'Clayne 1603; M'Cleane 1615; Maclein 1586; M'GilLayne 1549; M'Gilleon 1522, M'Gilleoun 1548, M'Killeane 1603, Maclane 1545, M'Gilleoin 1449; M'Gilleone 1475; Mcgilleoune 1539; M'Gillichean 1656; Mcllaine and Mc illaine 1595; Mc illayn 1516; Mc illon 1603; Makclayne 1573; Makclean 1657; Makcleane 1615; Makgilleon 1390; Makgilleone 1496; Makclane, M'Clan, Mclen and Mc Lene 1662; Macklan, Maklane, and M'Klane all 1591; M'Leane 1662; Mcoleane 1561; (undated) Makclane, Makgillane, Makgilleoin, Makgilleon, Makgilleoun. The following additional spellings are all recorded in the Book of Islay Macklain, M'Gleane, M'lllclayne, M'Len, Macklane, M'Gillyane, Makllane, M'Klayne, M'Layne, and M'Gilloyne. Andrew McLean (1848-1922), born in Dumbartonshire, was founder and editor of the Brooklyn Citizen, Brooklyn, New York; and John McLane (1852-1911), governor of New Hampshire (1905-1906) and host at the Russo-Japanese conference at Portsmouth, August, 1905, was born in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

This is a Scottish name which has become very numerous in Ireland. Of the 106 Irish births recorded in 1890 (mostly in Ulster) 54 were spelt MacClean and 43 MacLean, the remaining 9 being MacAlean, MacClane etc. In Scotland it is the name of the clan Maclean. Their connexion with Ireland, which began with their employment by the MacDonnells as mercenary soldiers, dates from the fifteenth century.

Flower in his catalogue of Irish manuscripts in the British Museum mentions Eoghan Macgilleoin (Ewan MacLean) as a Scottish scribe writing Irish in Argyllshire in 1698. In Ireland it is Mac giolla Eáin or Mac giolla Eoin. The fashionable London highwayman James MacLaine (1724-1750), who was executed after robbing Horace Walpole, was a Co. Monaghan man.

Supplement to Irish Families (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

Mac Giolla Eáin A galloglass family of Scottish origin, numerous in Antrim and Derry. SIF 34

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(Celtic + Hebrew) Son of the Servant of John

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

Originally Macgillean. From a celebrated Highland warrior, Gillean-in-Tuiodh, or Gillean of the Battleaxe. B.L.G. Gaelic etymologists say, Mac-a-ghille-leathan-"the son of the Broad Lad !"

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

The son of Gillean. The family are descended from Gillian-ni-Tuiodth, who fought in the battle of Largs.

The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

MacClean Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name MacClean Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname MacClean is found most frequently in The United States. It can also appear as a variant:. For other potential spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name MacClean? popularity and diffusion

The last name MacClean is the 1,658,108th most prevalent family name on earth. It is borne by approximately 1 in 60,729,549 people. The last name is primarily found in The Americas, where 54 percent of MacClean live; 48 percent live in North America and 48 percent live in Anglo-North America. It is also the 2,446,817th most frequently used first name internationally. It is borne by 20 people.

The last name MacClean is most commonly held in The United States, where it is held by 51 people, or 1 in 7,107,038. In The United States it is most prevalent in: California, where 35 percent reside, Texas, where 8 percent reside and Florida, where 6 percent reside. Not including The United States this last name exists in 20 countries. It is also found in Nigeria, where 23 percent reside and England, where 8 percent reside.

MacClean Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of MacClean has changed through the years. In The United States the share of the population with the last name rose 729 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in Ireland it rose 200 percent between 1901 and 2014.

MacClean Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those bearing the surname is primarily Presbyterian (100%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the MacClean surname are 42.12% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 88.89% registered to vote for the party.

MacClean earn somewhat less than the average income. In United States they earn 11.87% less than the national average, earning $38,028 USD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
MacCleane941/
MacLean9359,616/
MacClan931/
McClearn88518/
MacClain88103/
MacLeane8889/
Macklean8828/
MacCluen8817/
Macclane888/
Meaclean886/
MacLlean883/
MacCland881/
MacCleen881/
Macliean881/
Mac'lean881/
Macclayn881/
Macclene881/
Maccloen881/
Maclan86182/
McClen86110/
Maclen8691/
MacCellan824/
MacLeiian821/
McClain8060,395/
Maclang802,395/
Maclane80307/
McLearn80244/
MacKlan80243/
Maclain80185/
MacKlen80171/
Mcclenn8045/
Maclaan8040/
MacLand8038/
Mcclian8037/
McCleon8031/
Macleon8031/
McClein8022/
MacLaen8012/
Macleen8012/
MacLein8011/
Macleam809/
Maclene809/
MacLian804/
McClaun803/
Maklean803/
MacLoen802/
MacLlan802/
McClayn801/
MacLamn801/
MacLien801/
MacClem801/
McLen7788/
McLan7718/
McCallan75455/
Macklein7593/
Mackleyn7513/
MacEllan756/
Mackleen756/
Macleine754/
Macklain752/
MacKlane752/
Makleang752/
MacIllan751/
Mayclank751/
MacKlene751/
Maccline751/
Maclanne751/
Macklien751/
Mackloen751/
Makklean751/
Macliane751/
McLain7123,968/
Maklan71401/
MacLam71187/
McLeon71117/
McClun71101/
Moclan7182/
McLein7138/
McCallian7124/
McLian7111/
Machillan7110/
Maklen719/
McLenn718/
MacKellan717/
Mcloan717/
Makkleang715/
MacClaine714/
MacIllian714/
MacLem714/
McLuan712/
Mackillan712/
McKlen711/
MacEllain711/
Maqlan711/
Mackleyne711/
Moclen710/
MacKlesen710/
MacLehone710/
MacIllehhain700/
McAllan67949/
McCline67395/
Maklein67186/
MacQuillan67134/
Meaclem67129/
Macline6776/
McKlein6762/
Maqulan6738/
Makleyn6727/
Macliam6727/
Makloen6722/
Maklane6714/
McEllan6713/
Mazzlan679/
Maklian678/
Maklain677/
Maklyan676/
Macgilleon675/
Mayclem674/
Makleam673/
Maklaan673/
Makhlan672/
Mocklen671/
Makland671/
MacQuellan671/
Mackleisen671/
Mackėlienė671/
Maclgin671/
Maiklan671/
Maqlyan671/
Maklien671/
Maklank671/
McKlenn670/
McChlon670/
Maklene670/

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to MacClean
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis