Surname MacKillican - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKillican: What does the surname MacKillican mean?
The last name MacKillican is believed to be of Scottish origin and derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Ghille Fhinnein, which originated in the Inverness region of Scotland. In English, the name translates to “son of the servant of the fair one.” There are several variations of the surname, such as McKillin, Makillican, MacKillon, Makellin, Mackellin, McKillion, and McKillop.
In the 18th century, the MacKillican clan was based in Ross-shire, Scotland, where their territory stretched from Loch Broom to the Black Isle. At one point, they may have been as many as three thousand families of MacKillicans living in Scotland.
Today, the MacKillican surname can be found in America, Canada, Scotland, and Australia. Members of the clan can be found living in the same areas as their ancestors, as well as in areas with a higher concentration of Scots-Irish immigrants, such as the Appalachian region of the United States.
The MacKillican name has become associated with a sense of pride, and family members often share stories of their Scottish heritage and ancestors with younger generations. It is also believed that individuals with this surname might have been present at some of the most notable events in Scottish history, including the Battle of Culloden and the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKillican: Where does the name MacKillican come from?
The last name MacKillican is most common today in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is especially prevalent on the Isle of Skye, one of the major Scottish Islands, where many of the clan's original members came from.
Historically, the MacKillicans were part of a tribe of ancient Scots who lived in the northwestern part of Scotland. They descended from Celts who settled in the area centuries ago. Many of the clan's members were fishers and farmers, but they also had an affinity for seafaring, and their trading and seafaring ships were a fixture on the North Sea waters for centuries.
The surname "MacKillican" has gone through various spellings throughout the centuries, including MacKillQueane, McKillikin, MacCalacan, and MacKilligin. It is believed to have originated as Mac Ceallagan, Gaelic for “son of Ceallagan".
In modern day, large numbers of the MacKillicans can be found in major cities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where they still adhere to the traditions of their ancestors. While the majority of the clan still lives in Scotland, northeastern parts of England, and Ireland, many have emigrated to the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and even South Africa.
Variations of the surname MacKillican
MacKillican is a Scottish surname of Gaelic origin. This last name is spelled a variety of ways and has a number of variants as well. It is commonly spelled MacKillican, MacKilligan, MacKellican, MacKelligott, MacKelligott, MacKelleget, MacKelligott, and MacKegan. As well as the variants McKillicam, McKilligott, McKelligan, McKelligott, McKelleget, McKelligan, and McKelligott.
This surname has been spelled in a variety of ways due to its migration through different regions and languages. As such, in Scotland the Gaelic form of Macrillicain became MacKilligan and MacLellican. In Ireland the Gaelic form of Mac GilleCheann became MacKegan and MacKelligott.
The surname is spelled MacGilligan in Donegal, Ireland and MacKillican in Ulster, Ireland. It is also quite common to see the surname spelled MacGillicworld in Scotland and Scotland-Irish lands throughout the world.
MacKilligan, MacKegan, MacKelligott, and MacKelligott are all derivatives of the original Gaelic surname of MacGillecheann. They, along with the other variants of the surname, probably represent various ancestral branches of a single Gaelic clan in Scotland and Ireland.
In summary, MacKillican is a Scottish surname of ancient Gaelic origin. Over the centuries, this name has been modified and adapted in many different ways, primarily due to migration and language changes. The most common variants and spellings of this surname today include MacKillican, MacKellican, MacKelligott, MacKelligott, MacKelleget, MacKelligott, MacKegan, McKillicam, McKilligott, McKelligan, McKelligott, McKelleget, McKelligan, and McKelligott.
Famous people with the name MacKillican
- Aaron MacKillican: American actor known for his work in film and television, appearing in a variety of shows such as Bones, NCIS, and Supernatural.
- Dean MacKillican: British singer-songwriter from Edinburgh who has released three albums and achieved chart success in England.
- Eric MacKillican: Scottish professional football player who has played for teams such as Aberdeen, Motherwell, and Partick Thistle.
- Andrew MacKillican: Canadian wheelchair basketball player who competed in the Paralympic Games in both 2000 and 2004.
- John MacKillican: Canadian olympic sailor who competed at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
- Mary MacKillican: Scottish author and journalist who wrote extensively about sustainability and climate change.
- Caroll MacKillican: Scottish-American painter known for her landscape paintings of the Scottish Highlands.
- Neil MacKillican: Canadian actor, comedian, and writer best known for his work on the sketch comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
- Angus MacKillican: Australian actor and stand-up comedian who has appeared on popular shows such as The Venture Bros. and Review with Myles Barlow.
- Melanie MacKillican: Australian businesswoman and advocate for women’s rights, having founded several organisations such as the Women’s Collective and the Women’s Commission on Equal Opportunity.