Surname McAlinden - Meaning and Origin

McAlinden: What does the surname McAlinden mean?

McAlinden is a surname of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Fhiondain" which translates to "son of the servant of St. Fintan". St. Fintan was a revered 6th-century Irish saint known for his wisdom and teaching, who lived as a hermit and founded a monastery in Clonenagh, Ireland. The prefix "Mac" indicates 'son of' and "Giolla" means 'servant' or 'devotee', so persons carrying McAlinden as a family name are believed to be descendants of followers or devotees of Saint Fintan. It is common in Irish tradition to adopt such surnames that signify religious or spiritual connection. The name can be found in different variations, like MacAlindan or MacLinden, resulting from regional spelling and phonetic differences. Like many Irish surnames, its bearers can be found in Ireland and across the world due to the Irish diaspora. The McAlindens can be particularly associated with County Armagh in Northern Ireland.

McAlinden: Where does the name McAlinden come from?

The last name McAlinden is of Irish origin, coming from the Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Fhloinn", which roughly translates to "son of the servant of St. Flann". In its English form, this surname is first recorded in the late 16th Century, and it has several variations, including MacAlindan, McAlindon, and McAlindin.

Today, the surname McAlinden is most common in Northern Ireland, particularly in counties like Armagh and Down. This is closely linked to the historic presence of the Gaelic tribes in these regions. Also, as a result of the various waves of Irish emigration over the past few centuries, this surname has been spread to other parts of the world, such as the USA, Canada, and Australia. However, it still remains relatively rare outside of Ireland.

Variations of the surname McAlinden

The surname McAlinden is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Fhiondain that broadly means 'son of the servant of St. Fintan.' Variations of this surname include McAlindon, MacAlindin, MacLinden, and McAlindan. It is also found as MacAlindon, MacLindon, and MacAlinden in some records. The variations resulted from attempts to phonetically transliterate the complex Irish spelling into English. Other potential spellings include McAlindina and McAlinden-Kennedy representing matrilineal lineage or marital unions.

The surname's origin is associated with the northern region of Ireland, mainly in County Armagh. However, its distribution spread out due to the historical Irish diaspora, so today it is found in many English-speaking nations worldwide.

While the surnames share a similar origin, it should be noted that regional differences and individual family histories may affect the exact lineage and meaning. The volatility in the surname's spelling is due to the lack of standardized spelling in early medieval times along with varying regional dialects and pronunciation. This often led to a person's name being recorded under several different variations during a single lifetime.

Famous people with the name McAlinden

• Hugh McAlinden: Australian politician and currently a member of the Western Australia Legislative Assembly.
• Nora McAlinden: British opera singer and radio presenter.
• Alex McAlinden: Northern Irish visual artist and filmmaker.
• Paul McAlinden: Northern Irish footballer who has been capped for both Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland U21s.
• Justin McAlinden: Retired American football cornerback who played in the National Football League with the New York Giants.
• Galen McAlinden: American footballer who currently plays in the Major Soccer League for the San Diego Loyal.
• Colleen McAlinden: Irish screenwriter whose work includes six feature film credits.
• Marissa McAlinden: Hollywood actress known for her roles in movies like The Notebook, The A-Team and The Killing.
• Pete McAlinden: Professional poker player and winner of the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event in 2010.
• Leonard McAlinden: Retired Northern Irish professional football goalkeeper who played for clubs including Watford and Northampton Town.

Other surnames

McAlindinMcAlindon