Surname MacScanlan - Meaning and Origin
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MacScanlan: What does the surname MacScanlan mean?
The last name MacScanlan is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name MacScanlain. The Gaelic prefix 'Mac' translates to 'son of', so MacScanlan literally means 'son of Scanlan'. The meaning of this surname is believed to lie in the old Irish Gaelic first name 'Scanlan', which likely derives from the Latin word 'scandulus', meaning 'ladder'.
The name MacScanlan comes from the Dál Riata, an ancient Gaelic kingdom on the western coast of Scotland and Ulster in Northern Ireland. The Dál Riata were originally pagan Celts who adopted Christianity beginning in the 5th century, although the kingdom itself began to decline during this period.
The MacScanlan family have origins in this region which date back centuries. The name has been used by many individuals over the centuries and is still used in both Scotland and Ireland today. It is a popular surname with a rich history that is still alive in many parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacScanlan: Where does the name MacScanlan come from?
The last name MacScanlan is most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The MacScanlan family can be traced back to the 15th century, to the Highlands region of Scotland. The family originated from Clan MacFarlane, which is a specific Scottish clan of ancient origin. The surname MacScanlan means ‘son of the little wise man’, and was historically used as a patronymic surname, meaning that it is based on the given name of a father, grandfather, or other male ancestor.
Over time, the surname MacScanlan has spread to other countries, including the United States and Canada. While it is no longer commonly seen in Scotland, it is still found in Britain and is found in relatively large numbers in Northern Ireland. It is also found in smaller numbers in the United States and Canada, primarily among those of British or Irish ancestry.
The easiest way to find out where MacScanlan is most common today is to search for the family name on genealogy websites or search for any individuals with the surname. As of the 2020 US Census, there were approximately 3,919 people in the United States with the surname MacScanlan. You can search for more specific numbers in Northern Ireland or other countries such as Canada or Australia.
Variations of the surname MacScanlan
The surname MacScanlan is of Irish origin and is also spelt as MacScanlan, McScanlan, and Scanlan. Mc is a prefix in a surname which denotes that the surname is derived from the given name of the father. It is also identified as a way to link families.
MacScanlan is an anglicised form of the ancient Gaelic name 'Mac an T Sgain' which is derived from the personal name meaning 'son of the man of the skean' which is a kind of dagger. It was originally found in the County of Mayo where three distinct families are recorded.
Another variation of the MacScanlan surname is Scanlain, also derived from its Angloforms 'Scainglean' and 'Scalyn'. This is an old Irish surname created from the Gaelic 'Mac Scanlain' which means 'son of the man of the battle-skirmish'.
The other variant, MacGilloscanlan, is an anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name 'Mag Ealascuin', which means 'son of the bald servant'. This is an old Irish name arising from the Gaelic 'Mac an Ghill Scanlain', meaning 'son of the servant of the family of Scanlain.' This surname is also found in the County Mayo.
Finally, variants of the name include MacScanlon, MacScanlan, MacScalind, and MacScallynd. All these surnames are derived from the original Gaelic 'Mac an T Sgain', meaning 'son of the man of the skean'.
Overall, there are many different spelling variations of the surname MacScanlan. They are all descended from a common ancestor who carried the original Gaelic name 'Mac an T Sgain', meaning 'son of the man of the skean'.
Famous people with the name MacScanlan
- Kate MacScanlan: Canadian lawyer and executive director of West Coast Environmental Law Association
- Philip MacScanlan: British politician
- Gregory MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Thomas MacScanlan: American politician and postmaster
- William MacScanlan: British colonial administrator
- David MacScanlan: Canadian lawyer and Ontario Superior Court judge
- Gordon MacScanlan: Canadian soldier
- Charles MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Robert MacScanlan: Australian business executive
- Andrew MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Florence MacScanlan: Canadian educator and associate professor
- Gerry MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Malcolm MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Donald MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- John MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Janice MacScanlan: Canadian politician
- Lawrence MacScanlan: Canadian educational administrator
- Mary MacScanlan: Canadian business executive and mayor of Stratford, Ontario
- Brooke MacScanlan: Canadian actor
- Alan MacScanlan: Canadian actor and television producer.