Surname McCallan - Meaning and Origin

McCallan: What does the surname McCallan mean?

The last name McCallan is of Scottish origin and derives from the Old Gaelic surname Mac Dhomhnuill. It is composed of two elements, “Mac” and “Dhomhnuill”, meaning ‘son of Donald’. St. Donald was a popular saint in Scotland at the time and many Scots adopted the name as their own patronymic.

The surname has found itself in the Lowlands of Scotland and is particularly popular in Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, and Argyl. It has spread to other parts of the world throughout the years, including the United States. The variants of this surname range from MacCallan and MacCallum to McCallin and McCalen.

As a patronym, the name McCallan shows that the individual is proud of their Scottish heritage and of their family’s long tradition and connection to the land. From a modern perspective, this surname reflects a sense of respect for ancestors and for the heritage of one’s family which can be passed down to more recent generations. In this way, the McCallans demonstrate a strong sense of identity and of belonging in their culture.

McCallan: Where does the name McCallan come from?

The last name McCallan is a Scottish surname, derived from the MacAllan Clan in Scotland. McCallans are likely found throughout Scotland and throughout the U.K. There are also well established McCallan communities in Canada and the United States.

The McCallans are likely most concentrated in the Scottish Highlands, including Elginshire, Aberdeenshire, and Perthshire. In the United States, a majority of McCallans are likely found in the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachian, and Midwest regions. In Canada, many of the original McCallan settlers are likely found in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and British Columbia.

It is impossible to know the exact population of McCallans around the world, but the name is likely most common in Scotland and in Britain. There is a small but prominent presence in North America as well, derived from Scottish and Irish immigrants in the late 1800s. For many of the Scottish immigrants, the last name McCallan was likely passed down through the generations, making it increasingly common in the United States and Canada.

Though the exact size of the McCallan population is unknown, it is safe to assume that they have a strong presence in Scotland, Britain, the United States, and Canada.

Variations of the surname McCallan

Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McCallan include MacCallan, McCallion, MacCallen, McCallen, MacCallin, McCallin, and MacCallum. Other names in Ireland with a similar sound are McCalman, MacCalman and MacCalmant.

The surname McCallan is the Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mac Cathail, which is composed of two elements: "mac" meaning "son" and "cathail" meaning "battle warrior". The McCallans are believed to originate from Ulster, a province in Northern Ireland.

There are a number of different septs (clans), or variant surnames, in Ireland including MacCaille, MacCallon, MacCannen, MacConnell, MacConvey, MacCorry, MacDonnell, MacLellan and MacMahon. Depending on the sept and clan of the family, there can be multiple spellings and surnames of the same origin.

In Scotland, the surname is today most commonly spelled as MacCallan, MacCullen or MacCallein. Additionally, MacColman and MacChollum are found in some parts of Scotland.

In America, there are many variants of the name, including but not limited to McCallion, McCellan, McCollan, McCulham, McCulhem, McKellan, MacCallan, MacCallam, MacCallen, MacCellan, MacCullan, MacKallan, McCoyellan, MacKilian and McKinlan.

In Australia, the variant of MacCallan is found most commonly, but other spellings such as Mc Callon, MacCallan, Callahan, McCallan, MacCalan, McCallum, McCollin, McCullen and Callan are also found.

Famous people with the name McCallan

• Malcolm McCallan: Scottish professional footballer who recently enjoyed a successful spell with Rangers.
• Sean McCallan: Irish former professional footballer who had two spells with Monaghan United, and a stint with Shamrock Rovers.
• Jack McCallan: Former professional ice hockey left winger from Northern Ireland. He played in the NHL for the Boston Bruins and Colorado Rockies.
• Rob McCallan: Actor, comedian, radio personality, writer and producer from Scotland. He has made numerous appearances on television and radio, as well as in film and theatre.
• David McCallan: British actor best known for his roles in the BBC's Hardy Boys TV series, as well as Doctor Who and a range of other films and television series.
• Alan McCallan: Renowned British entrepreneur and philanthropist with business interests spanning retail, financial services, consultancy and travel.
• Kelly McCallan: American film and television actress best known for her recurring roles in the CBS series That '70s Show and the Disney Channel original movie A Family Holiday.
• Donna McCallan: Journalist and author from Scotland whose areas of expertise include technology, business and travel.
• Drew McCallan: Former Major League Baseball player who played 16 seasons with the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Ian McCallan: Scottish-born Canadian golfer who has competed on the European Senior Tour.

Other surnames

McCallMcCallenMcCallinMcCallionMcCallonMcCallumMcCally