MacLellan Surname

67,955th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 7,313 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
Canada
Highest density in:
Scotland

MacLellan Surname Definition:

MACCLELLAN, Macclelland, Macleland, Maclalland Maclellan, and Maclelland: Gaelic MacGill' Fhaolain (the Gillafaelan of the genealogical ms. of 1467), 'son of the servant of (S. )Fillan.' Fillan, Elr. Faelan, Olr. Failan, is a reduced form of faelchu, from fail, now faol, 'a wolf.

Read More About This Surname

MacLellan Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Canada3,8971:9,4551,418
United States1,7081:212,21220,739
Scotland9451:5,665926
England3941:141,41613,724
Australia1941:139,15314,991
New Zealand311:146,07517,002
Venezuela241:1,258,50317,711
South Africa191:2,851,458109,033
Qatar121:196,50026,891
Wales111:281,32115,850
Spain81:5,844,00486,878
Bermuda71:9,3261,286
Netherlands61:2,814,529101,176
France51:13,284,544357,392
India41:191,766,3461,073,940
Thailand41:17,659,586685,799
Singapore41:1,376,92628,409
Sweden31:3,282,252190,759
Monaco31:12,3552,088
China31:455,773,85521,925
Brazil31:71,358,111770,017
Papua New Guinea21:4,076,858165,791
Switzerland21:4,106,458122,336
South Korea21:25,620,1284,175
Peru21:15,892,06251,966
Ireland21:2,354,47019,715
Argentina21:21,371,707253,176
Honduras21:4,408,2217,709
Northern Ireland11:1,845,03620,648
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
United Arab Emirates11:9,162,273135,437
Bolivia11:10,616,43417,077
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Chile11:17,616,47493,597
Czechia11:10,633,469206,023
Saint Lucia11:178,7813,800
Norway11:5,142,286129,201
Germany11:80,505,459560,955
Jersey11:99,2026,620
Japan11:127,844,29373,547
Italy11:61,156,688199,583
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland61:738,31121,113
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States191:2,643,089124,494

MacLellan (13) may also be a first name.

MacLellan Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

MACCLELLAN, Macclelland, Macleland, Maclalland Maclellan, and Maclelland: Gaelic MacGill' Fhaolain (the Gillafaelan of the genealogical ms. of 1467), 'son of the servant of (S. )Fillan.' Fillan, Elr. Faelan, Olr. Failan, is a reduced form of faelchu, from fail, now faol, 'a wolf.' Maclellans were numerous in Galloway in the latter end of the fourteenth century, and they gave name to Balmaclellan (i.e. Maclellan's town) in the Stewartry. M'Kerlie (III, p. 62) says the lands were granted to John Maclellan by James III in February, 1466, when his name was given to the lands on his bestowing a site for a new church, but I have found no record of this. The lands are mentioned in 1457, in which year Sir Alexander Boyd had sasine of them (ER., VI p. 347). John M'Lelane filius Dungalli Johnsone had a charter of the lands of Balmaclelane from Vedastus Greresone dominus de Lag, which received the royal confirmation in August, 1466 (RMS., II, 907). The earliest record of the surname is in 1305-6 when Patrick, son of Gilbert M'Lolane, with several others, took the Castle of Dumfries from followers of Bruce (Bain, IV, 389). In the reign of David II, Gilbert McGillolane appears as Captain of Clenconnan in Galloway (RMS., I, App. II, 912), a clan of which there is no other record. As Gylbert Mclolane he appears as juror on an inquisition at Dumfrese in 1367 (RHM., II, p. 64 Gillebertus MacLelan Galvediensio (i.e. of Galloway) was elected bishop of Man and the Sudreys (i.e. the South Isles) before 1325 and held the see for two and a half years (Chronica Regum Manniae, 1860, p. 30). Matthew McLolan, knight, and Gilbert, son of Gilbert McLolan, were witnesses, 1347 (Pap. Lett,, III, p. 396). Cane McGillolane witnessed the foundation charter of Sweetheart Abbey in 1359 (Genealogist, new ser. XVI, p. 218). In 1381 John Maklolayn petitioned for a benefice in the gift of the abbot and convent of Glenluce (Gleynluis) in the diocese of Whiteheme (Pap Pet,, I, p. 559,561). Ingeram M'Gillelan held lands in Forfarshire in 1372 (RMS., I, 515), and about the same period or a little later he also held the lands of Dalecarne in the upper half of the barony of Glenstanchere (Crossraguel, I, p. 40). Donald Maklellane appears as Steward of Kirkcudbright in 1457 (ER., VI p. 352), and a later Donald Mclalan witnessed a bond of manrent by Malcolm Moir Makesaig to Ronald Campbell of Barchibayan in 1592 (Coll., p. 198). A number of persons are also recorded in Morar, Inverness-shire, about 1670, the clan Illeulan of the Wardlaw Manuscript (Wardlaw, p. 185). Henry M'Lelann held land in Inverness in 1457 (Irwemessiana, p. 135) Estir Cammis and Cammislittill were let to Thome McFulain (i.e. Maclellan without the 'Gille') in 1480 (ER., VIII, p. 564). Peter McLellan was one of the first to receive from the Crown a grant of land which remained after the expulsion of the Acadians (1755) in Nova Scotia. Some Maclellans in the Aberfeldy district of Perthshire are regarded as a sept of the Macnabs who were the lay abbots of Glendochart. John Mac Donoquhy Mac Lelandis in Muckairn is mentioned under 1596 in connection with a raid (RPC., V). Duncan M'lllewlane in Soccoth was a Glenurquhay vassal, 1638 (BBT., p. 403), Duncan M'Ilelan in Faranbock, parish of Kilbride, 1699 (Argyll), Donald Bane M'llleland in Brawallich, 1717 (Campbell, I, p. 159), and Duncan M'lleolan in Miggerney, 1725 (Dunkeld). The name is also current without Mac and with gille preserved. M'Cleallane 1605 McCleilane 1522, McClelan 1509, Maclelane 1424, Maghellen 1478 Maklellan 1653, McKlellan 1684, Maklellane 1512, M'Lelen 1484, M'Lellane 1471, Makellane 1512.

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

Most families of these names in Ireland are of Scottish origin. The old Uí Fiachrach sept of Mac Giolla Fhaoláin in Co. Sligo appears to be almost if not quite extinct though possibly it survives as Gilfillan in Leitrim. MIF 57

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

“Son of Servant of Fillan” (“The Wolf”) in Gaelic.

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(Scottish, Irish) The son of the servant of St. Faolan (little wolf).

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

MACLELLAN: The son of Lellan. The family are descendfrom David MacLellan, 1217.

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

MACCLELLAN: Gael. Mac-a-ghilledhiolan (pron. Mao-il-iolan.) "The son of the Bastard."

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

MacLellan Last Name Facts

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

MacLellan has its highest incidence in Canada. It can be found as:. For other possible spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name MacLellan? popularity and diffusion

The surname MacLellan is the 67,955th most frequently used last name on earth, borne by around 1 in 996,519 people. The last name MacLellan occurs predominantly in The Americas, where 77 percent of MacLellan are found; 77 percent are found in North America and 76 percent are found in Anglo-North America. MacLellan is also the 3,159,357th most widely held first name globally. It is borne by 13 people.

The surname MacLellan is most frequently held in Canada, where it is carried by 3,897 people, or 1 in 9,455. In Canada it is most frequent in: Nova Scotia, where 37 percent live, Ontario, where 31 percent live and British Columbia, where 9 percent live. Besides Canada this last name exists in 41 countries. It also occurs in The United States, where 23 percent live and Scotland, where 13 percent live.

MacLellan Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The frequency of MacLellan has changed over time. In The United States the number of people who held the MacLellan surname expanded 8,989 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in Ireland it declined 67 percent between 1901 and 2014.

MacLellan Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those bearing the surname is predominantly Anglican (83%) in Ireland.

In The United States those bearing the MacLellan last name are 9.86% more likely to be registered Democrats than The US average, with 63.09% registered to vote for the party.

The amount MacLellan earn in different countries varies greatly. In Peru they earn 138.34% more than the national average, earning S/. 46,202 per year; in South Africa they earn 27.91% more than the national average, earning R 303,972 per year; in United States they earn 19.12% more than the national average, earning $51,401 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3.39% less than the national average, earning $47,998 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
MacClellan95204/
MacLelland95176/
MacLlellan955/
MacLellean951/
MacLellane950/
McLellan9417,349/
MacLelan945/
MacClelland90100/
McClellan8935,589/
Maklellan8910/
MacLlelan897/
MacLellam891/
McLeellan891/
MacLellon891/
MacLelaan891/
Maclellanová861/
Maccleland842/
McClelan8247/
McClellon78380/
Mccllelan7810/
McLilan750/
McClelon7125/
Meiklelam561/

Search for Another Surname

MacLellan Reference & Research

McClellan FamilyTree DNA Group - A group collating DNA test results for those who bear the surname, includes results of DNA tests and discussions.

McClellan FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

The name statistics are still in development, sign up for information on more maps and data

By signing up to the mailing list you will only receive emails specifically about name reference on Forebears and your information will not be distributed to 3rd parties.

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 MacLellan
  • 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