Surname MacVean - Meaning and Origin
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MacVean: What does the surname MacVean mean?
The last name MacVean has its origin in Scotland and is a variant spelling of the Gaelic Mac an Mhaoir, translated to mean son of the steward. Historically, this surname belonged to the Clan MacLean, a Highland Scottish clan.
The Clan MacLean is quite ancient, with roots in Celtic mythology and holding a rich history. They claim descent from a mythic ancestor, Gillean of the Battle-Axe, a fierce warrior who roamed the Highlands in the 15th century and was the son of the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages.
During the 16th century, the Clan MacLean held considerable power in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where they were landowners and warriors who valued their independence. Although they had initially gathered as a clan under Chief Gilbert MacLean in the 16th century they would later splinter and form their own individual families, including the MacKeans, MacVeans and MacVanins.
As their branch of the Clan MacLean scattered throughout Scotland, the MacVean’s retained strong ties to their original clan, and continue to do so today even if they no longer reside in the Highlands. MacVeans are part of Scotland’s history and the Clan MacLean’s directors still recognize them as a sept of their Great Highland Clan.
Order DNA origin analysisMacVean: Where does the name MacVean come from?
The surname MacVean is most commonly found today in Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States. It is a Gaelic name, derived from the old Gaelic reference “Mac an Mheadhaoin”, which translates into “son of the wise one”. The MacVean name is an example of what is known as a patronymic or an anglicized version of a Gaelic surname.
In Scotland and Ireland, the most common sources of the MacVean surname are in the Highlands and the Lowlands. In Scotland, the surname is usually linked with Clan MacIntyre; however, some members of Clan MacVean use this surname as well.
In the United States, the MacVean surname is most commonly found in areas where Scots and Irish immigrants settled in the 19th century, such as upstate New York and the Appalachian states. The surname is also quite common in Canada, especially in Nova Scotia, where it is believed to have come from Scottish immigrants in the 1700s.
Although the surname is not as common today as it once was, it can still be found in most English-speaking countries. The most common spellings of the name today are MacVean, MacVein and MacViane.
Variations of the surname MacVean
The surname MacVean is a variant of the Gaelic MacBheathain which is derived from the personal name Beathan. This family name originated in the northern Scottish region of Inverness-shire. There are several spellings and variations of this surname.
The most common variant of MacVean is MacBean which is the anglicized version of the Gaelic which literally means "son of life". Other variants of this name include MacVee, McVeigh, McVeigh, McVie and MacVay.
There have been known instances where the name was also spelled MacWain, Macvan, MacVean, MacEvyn, and MacEvin. Some of the variants of this surname have included MacVeanne, McVain, MacBheatin, MacBeanagh, MacBheathain, McBean, and MacBheathainn.
The spelling and variant of the surname can also depend upon which branch of the family it comes from. Some branches have retained the more traditional Gaelic spelling of MacVean while others have opted for the anglicized version of MacBean or McVeigh.
In most cases, the original surname is pronounced in the same way no matter how it is spelled, and the pronunciation follows the traditional gaelic sound of the vowels. The surname MacVean is still found primarily in the Northern Scotland region, but it has spread outside of the area, particularly throughout England and other parts of the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name MacVean
- Rob MacVean: former 1st baseman for the New York Mets
- Bob MacVean: former Major League Baseball catcher and manager
- Angus MacVean: Scottish rugby union player
- Angus MacVean: president of Canadian Rugby Union
- Alex MacVean: Academy Award-winning film producer
- Rebecca MacVean: Australian television presenter
- Nancy MacVean: Scottish Member of Parliament
- Benny MacVean: American actor, writer and director
- Chris MacVean: television and radio presenter
- Hugh MacVean: Scottish golfer
- Philip MacVean: British Royal Navy officer