Surname McClennon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McClennon: What does the surname McClennon mean?
McClennon is a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Choinnigh", which can be translated as "son of the follower/service of Saint Canice", referring to a devotee of the 6th-century Irish saint. Given that surnames were often taken from a significant elder, clan, profession, or place of residence, the "Mac" prefix suggests a paternal descent, symbolizing "son of". Therefore, the original bearer of the name McClennon was presumably a male descendant of a follower of Saint Canice. Like other surnames, over time and with geographical spread, it has been altered in spelling and pronunciation, with variations such as McClendon, McClinden, and McClennan. However, all retain the historical, cultural, and familial connections tied to the McClennon name.
Order DNA origin analysisMcClennon: Where does the name McClennon come from?
The surname McClennon is of Scottish origin. It is an altered form of the name McLennan, which appears to have derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Fhinnein, meaning "son of the servant of St. Finnan". Emigrants from Scotland carried the surname to various parts of the world.
Today, the surname McClennon is not common, but it can be found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The distribution is relatively sparse across these countries, with the densest concentration reported in the United States, specifically in the states of Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. However, due to the varied spelling and phonetic similarities with other Scottish surnames, some people bearing similar names may actually have different ancestral origins.
Variations of the surname McClennon
The surname McClennon has various spellings and variants, mostly influenced by geographic location, historical changes, phonetic similarities, and transcription errors. Some of its known variants include McClennan, MacLennan, MacLennon, McLennan, and McLennon. Origins of these surnames are primarily Scottish and Irish, where 'Mac' or 'Mc' denotes 'son of', suggesting that these surnames might originally have signified 'son of Lennon' or 'son of Lennan'.
Other potential spellings influenced by regional dialects and pronunciation could be Macklennon, MacClennon, McLendon, McClenden, and possibly even MacLendon. Additionally, given the nature of oral transmission of names, it's plausible to find further deviations like MacLenon, McLenon, or MacClenon.
Surname variants can often be more diverse in immigrant populations, where attempts to adapt names to new languages and cultures resulted in significant alterations. Therefore, in countries where English is not the first language, variations of this surname may exist that haven't been mentioned here.
However, tracing the exact lineage and transformation of a surname like McClennon is challenging due to the vast array of potential influences impacting surnames over centuries.
Famous people with the name McClennon
- Conner McClennon: American actor best known for his role in NBC’s Chicago Fire.
- Jonathan McClennon: Actor starring in a number of independent films.
- Eugene McClennon: Former NBA player and current coach with the Charlotte Hornets.
- Alex McClennon: Canadian film and television actress.
- Rachel McClennon: Reality star on the show The Bachelorette.
- Tom McClennon: American actor who has appeared in television shows such as Will & Grace and The Drew Carey Show.
- Pat McClennon: American folk singer and songwriter.
- Molly McClennon: British actress who has appeared in films such as The Golden Compass and Stardust.
- Pixi McClennon: Canadian singer and songwriter from the band The Balconies.
- Kayla McClennon: Broadway actress starring in Matilda The Musical.