Surname MacClinton - Meaning and Origin
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MacClinton: What does the surname MacClinton mean?
The mac part of the surname MacClinton is the Scottish Gaelic for “son.” The second part of this surname, Clinton, suggests an ancestral connection to places named with the Old English “tun”, which usually means “town,” “settlement,” or “enclosure.” Therefore, the last name MacClinton could have originated in Scotland, near a settlement that has survived to the present day or has become known in recent years by a different name.
The use of the prefix “mac” suggests that each generation of the family added the middle name or surname to distinguish that particular branch from other branches of the same family. For example, a family with the middle name MacClinton may have added the middle name as a way to separate themselves from other families living in the same area with the same first name.
The surname MacClinton could also have originated in England due to the influence of the Norman Conquest. In England, the use of mac as a prefix may have varied depending on the region, with some regions using the “mac” prefix while other regions simply adopted the Clinton surname to indicate the family’s land holdings in the area.
Overall, the MacClinton surname suggests a family of strong ties to Scotland and England, with a well-documented history that stretches as far back as the 12th century.
Order DNA origin analysisMacClinton: Where does the name MacClinton come from?
The last name MacClinton is most commonly found among people of Scottish heritage. It is a habitational name derived from any of the numerous places in Scotland named Clinton or Clifton. These place names come from the Anglo-Saxon “Clyn”, which means a valley or ravine, and “tun”, which means a settlement or enclosure. This makes sense, as most places named with those elements were originally taken from Gaelic words with the same meaning.
The surname MacClinton can also be found among people of Irish heritage, where it is an Anglicization of the Gaelic surname MacGlincin or MacGlinchon. In Ireland, the name is most common in and around County Leitrim, a traditionally Gaelic-speaking region in the northwest of the country.
In modern times, MacClinton is most prevalent in North America, where it was brought by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the 1800s. In the United States, the MacClinton surname is most common in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. In Canada, the most common places to find the surname are Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. For those of Scottish or Irish heritage, finding a MacClinton living today is fairly easy.
Variations of the surname MacClinton
The surname MacClinton is an Irish surname of Scottish origin. It is a form of MacGlinton, a Scottish surname created from the Gaelic MacGlintain, describing a person who was a son of the follower of Glinton.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacClinton include MacClinte, MacLintie, MacLinte, MacLenton, MacIntire, MacKinley, MacKintri, MacKinlay, ClanClint, McKinty, ClanClint and McL plү.
MacClinton is also seen spelled as MacGlintain, with variations as MacLintain, as well as McClendain.
MacClinton is an anglicized form of the Scottish ClanMacClinty, who arrived in Ireland in the early 17th century. The Irish variation is spelled MacClinté, MacClinaugh, MacClinn and MacGlinchy.
In Scotland, MacClinton is amorphous to the Clan MacKintosh. It is a sept of the MacKintosh clan and shares a common ancestor. Clan members of MacKintosh use the surname MacClinton, with McClements and Macklintock variations found in Scotland.
MacClinton and its variations are found in Ulster and Scotland but can also be found in other countries such as the US, Australia and Canada. In Ireland, MacClinton is most commonly seen in Counties Tyrone, Donegal and Derry.
In Scotland, other spellings of the MacClinton families include McLaren and McClelland, while in America there are several different surnames derived from MacClinton including MacLenton, MacCleland and MacLintock.
Famous people with the name MacClinton
- Kirk MacClinton: Kirk MacClinton is a former professional ice hockey player who mostly played in the National Hockey League. He was born in 1958 and is from Canada. He played for various teams during his career including the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota North Stars.
- Brady MacClinton: Brady MacClinton is an American television actor. He was born in 1995 and is best known for his role in the show Nashville.
- Fraser MacClinton: Fraser MacClinton is an Irish singer and broadcaster from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is known for his work in folk music and folk rock. His band U2 were one of the most successful acts of the 80s and 90s.
- Mhairi MacClinton: Mhairi MacClinton is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. She has released three studio albums in her career and is well known for her folk rock-style music.
- Derek MacClinton: Derek MacClinton is a Scottish actor and filmmaker. Born in 1955, he has made several appearances on stage, radio and television and is best known for his role as Dr. Peter Abbott in BBC’s Class.