Surname Makmillan - Meaning and Origin
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Makmillan: What does the surname Makmillan mean?
The surname Makmillan originates from Scotland and is of Gaelic origin. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic term, "MacMhaolain" which translates to 'son of the tonsured one.' Tonsure refers to a particular haircut that was common among Christian monks and clerics in the Middle Ages. Hence, the surname indirectly refers to someone who is a 'son of a servant or devotee of the church'. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved and it was anglicized to MacMillan, Macmillan, or Makmillan. The MacMillan family was a branch of the Clan MacMillan, a large Scottish clan with ties to the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides. The clan's motto is 'Miseris succurrere disco,' meaning 'I learn to succour the unfortunate,' indicating a history of service and assistance to those in need.
Order DNA origin analysisMakmillan: Where does the name Makmillan come from?
The surname Makmillan is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the personal name MacMhaoil-eain, in old Gaelic, which means "son of the servant of St. John". The MacMillan clan, from which the surname originates, is an ancient clan from the highlands of Scotland that traces its roots back to the early 12th century.
The MacMillans were a powerful clan and their descendants spread across Scotland and beyond. They were especially prevalent in areas like Argyll, Galloway, and the Western Isles. The Makmillan variant of the surname is less common but follows the same geographical and historical roots.
Today, the surname MacMillan is most common in Scotland, Canada, and the United States. The variant Makmillan, while less common, would follow similar distribution patterns within Scottish diaspora communities around the world. It would be particularly prevalent in countries that have seen significant immigration from Scotland, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Variations of the surname Makmillan
The surname Makmillan is believed to be of Scottish origin, where it referred to a member of Clan MacMillan. The name in Gaelic is rendered as MacMhaolain, which means "son of the bald or tonsured one." Likely, it originated as a patronymic to identify the son of a religious devotee.
The surname Makmillan has several variations and alternative spellings due to regional accents and phonetic spellings over the centuries. Here are a few:
1. MacMillan
2. McMillan
3. Macmillan
4. MacMilan
5. Mcmilan
Each of these variations have been used at some point in time. The prefixes "Mac" and "Mc" both mean "son of" in Gaelic, and you'll find them used interchangeably.
In some instances, certain branches of a family may have chosen to change their spelling of the surname due to personal preference or to differentiate themselves. Every variant though relates back to the original Gaelic spelling and meaning.
Famous people with the name Makmillan
- R. B. Bennett (1870–1947), 11th Prime Minister of Canada
- John W. Dafoe (1866–1944), publisher and editor of the Winnipeg Free Press
- Richard B. Simon (1881–1948), publisher and philanthropist
- Agnes MacDonald (1869–1940), Canadian premiers wife
- Kenneth Mackenzie Clark, Baron Clark of Saltwood (1903–1983), art historian, author, and broadcaster
- William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950), 10th Prime Minister of Canada
- Robert Lorne Mackenzie (1887–1962), former Canadian Prime Minister
- Elmer MacMillan (1888–1965), Canadian politician and minister
- Robert J. Mackenzie (1890–1976), Canadian politician and minister
- Hugh Mackenzie (1735–1824), political figure in Upper Canada
- Alexander Mackenzie (1822–1892), 2nd Prime Minister of Canada
- Margaret Maule Mackenzie (1897–1986), Canadian nurse, artist, and author
- John A. MacMillan (1865–1952), former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
- Alfred Wolfrom Mackenzie (1862–1935), architect
- Charles Gordon Mackenzie (1874–1962), doctor and missionary
- David Mackenzie (1833–1899), Canadian lumberman and politician
- Milton Wilmon Mackenzie (1876–1961), Canadian politician
- Marie C. MacMillan (1889–1960), Canadian feminist and suffragette
- Doug MacMillan (1916–2014), Canadian broadcaster
- David F. MacMillan (1921–2011), Canadian politician