MCLEAN
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Lean, Mc'Lean, Mc'lean, Mclean
McLean is a surname of Gaelic origin that is principally associated with Scotland and, by extension, with the wider British Isles.
In its earliest attestations, the name is recorded as a patronymic form of MacGilleÉain, literally meaning son of the servant of Saint John. The Gaelic components are Mac, meaning "son of"; gille, denoting a servant or devotee; and Eoin (or Ian), the classic Gaelic rendering of "John", itself derived from the Hebrew Yochanan signifying "Jehovah has favoured me".
Historical records show the surname in a variety of Gaelic spellings, including Gilleain, Giolla-eoin, and M'Gillon, before settling into the modern form McLean. The first documented usage dates to 1327, when a vessel belonging to Donald M'Gilhon circumnavigated the isle known then as Le Mole, later Mull, during the reign of King Robert I, the Bruce (1306‑1329).
Other early entries in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland include the sons of a man named Gilhon—John and Neil—in 1326; Nigel M'Gillon, custodian of the castle of Scragburgh, in 1329; and Walter Malynne, abbot of Glenluce between 1517 and 1545.
The surname spread beyond Scotland through military service. In the 16th century, members of the McLean clan served as gallowglasses, mercenary soldiers for the MacDonnells of Ulster, thus establishing a lasting presence in Ireland.
Prominent individuals bearing the name include John Maclean, son of the laird of Dowart, ennobled by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1649; Sir John Maclean (1811‑1895), an esteemed archaeologist and keeper of ordnance records at the Tower of London from 1855 to 1861; and Sir Donald McLean (1820‑1877), the first minister and statesman of New Zealand.
The surname remains widely identified with Scottish clans, particularly Clan McLean, and continues to be a notable hallmark of Gaelic heritage within the Christian community of the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the McLean surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Macclean
- Mclaen
- Mclea
- Mcleane
- Macklain
- Macklan
- Macklean
- Macklin
- Maclain
- Maclaine
- Maclan
- Macland
- Maclane
- Maclean
- Macleanan
- Macleane
- Maclenan
- Maclennan
- Mcclain
- Mcclaine
- Mcclane
- Mcclean
- Mccleane
- Mcclein
- Mcklean
- Mclain
- Mclaine
- Mclan
- Mclane
- Mclaney
- Mclann
- Mcleam
- Mcleanan
- Mcleen
- Mcleman
- Mclenan
- Mclenen
- Mclenna
- Mclennan
- Mclennay
- Mclenny
- Mclenon
- Mcleon
- Mcqullan
- Mackland
- Macleman
- Macolan
- Maculan
- Mcallan
- Mcclaney
- Mcclenan
- Mcclone
- Mclam
- Mclelan
- Mclennen
- Mclennon
- Mcleown
- Mcleran
- McAllen
- McClune
- McCullen
- McGlone
- McGlynn
- McLay
- McQuillan
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McLean in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 30,258 people named McLean in the UK. That makes it the 266th most common surname in Britain. Around 465 in a million people in Britain are named McLean.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McLean
- Lenny McLean - Boxer (1949 to 1998)
- Nicola McLean - Model
- Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley - Singer and rapper
- Andrea McLean - Journalist
- Kenny McLean - Scottish football player
- Jim McLean - Football player
- Kiri Pritchard-McLean - Welsh comedian
- Tommy McLean - Scottish football player and manager
- Bitty McLean - Singer
- Aaron McLean - Football player
- Liam McLean - UK-based musical artist who creates music in genres such as dubstep and grime
- Angela McLean - Zoologist and Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Oxford
- Una McLean - Actress
- Willie McLean - Scottish football player and manager
- McLean - Singer
- Katy Daley-McLean - Rugby union player
- Brian McLean - Scottish football player
- Adam McLean - Scottish football player (1899 to 1973)
- Steven McLean - Scottish football referee
- Clive McLean - Photographer (1944 to 2005)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.