Surname MacMullen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacMullen: What does the surname MacMullen mean?
MacMullen is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin. Derived from the Gaelic elements "mac" meaning "son" and "maolain," which means "bald or tonsured one," or "devotee," it is often associated with early Christian monks who shaved the tops of their heads as a symbol of their religious devotion. Over time, it evolved to refer to someone who was considered to be a disciple or follower. Hence, MacMullen might be interpreted as the "son of the devotee" or "son of the disciple." Like many surnames, it was initially likely a patronymic name, passed from father to son. Given the high concentrations of MacMullens in certain regions of Scotland and Ireland, the name also helps in identifying geographical lineages within these countries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacMullen: Where does the name MacMullen come from?
The surname MacMullen is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Maolain", which means 'son of the devotee of St. John'. There are several variations in the spelling of the surname due to translations between English and Gaelic over the centuries, including McMullen, McMillan, McMillen, and others. The surname first appeared in the province of Connacht, located in West-central Republic of Ireland.
Today, the surname MacMullen, along with its variations, is common in many English-speaking countries. It is particularly common in Ireland and Northern Ireland due to its origins. However, due to historical emigration patterns particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, the name also spread to the United States, Canada, Australia, and Scotland. Therefore, these countries also have a significant number of individuals with the last name MacMullen. However, it's important to note that even in areas where the surname is relatively common, it is not among the most widespread surnames in any of these countries.
Variations of the surname MacMullen
The surname MacMullen has various spellings and variants that are derived from the same origin. Some of these include McMullen, MacMullan, McMullan, MacMullin, McMullin, McMillan, MacMillan, McMillen, and MacMillen.
It's an Irish and Scottish surname that is of Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Maoláin, a patronymic from the byname Maolán, a diminutive of maol ‘bald’, ‘tonsured’. In Scotland, it may also be from Mac Maolain, a patronymic from the personal name Maolán, a diminutive of maol.
The McMullen surname first found in County Antrim (Irish: Aontroim) located in the province of Ulster in present-day Northern Ireland, and in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata.
Differences in the spelling of surnames were common in history due to transcription errors and phonetic spelling among non-literate people. As a result, one person could be recorded under several different variations during a single lifetime. Hence, we have many different variants for the same surname.
Famous people with the name MacMullen
- Ryan MacMullen: He is the attendingsurgeon in thoracic oncology, robotics, and minimally invasive thoracic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
- James MacMullen: He is theVoice and Text Coach at the Metropolitan Opera Guild and a spokesman for the National Endowment for the Arts.
- David H MacMullen: He is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at California Polytechnic State University.
- Blaine MacMullen: He is an actor and stand-up comedian who starred in the Netflix series "Rated P for Parenthood".
- Gregory MacMullen: He is an American investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for being the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Brightline Interactive Group LLC.
- Winn MacMullen: He is a highly respected Canadian actor and screenplay writer. He appeared in a number of feature films, including the horror film "The Candyman".
- Michael MacMullen: He is a retired four star Admiral in the United States Navy, and the 23rd Chief of Naval Operations.
- William MacMullen: He is a visual effects supervisor for film and television, most notable for work on the HBO series "Game of Thrones".
- Colton MacMullen: He is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, turned entrepreneur and continuing education professor.
- Ken MacMullen: He is an Academy Award nominated film producer, who has produced films like "Kiss of the Dragon" and "The Killer Elite".