Surname McClernand - Meaning and Origin

McClernand: What does the surname McClernand mean?

The surname McClernand is of Scottish origin, although it is not as widely recognized or common as other Scottish names. The prefix "Mc" generally means "son of" in Gaelic, a language spoken in Scotland and Ireland. However, the exact meaning of "Clernand" cannot be clearly determined as it does not appear to directly translate from Gaelic or any other known language. It is possible that "Clernand" could be a derivative of a personal name or occupation, a common practice in the creation of surnames. Alternatively, it may be associated with a specific location in Scotland. Like many other surnames, McClernand may have evolved over time due to migrations, phonetic changes, or clerical errors in historical documents. Therefore, tracing its original meaning can be quite challenging. In the United States, the name is notably associated with John Alexander McClernand, an American lawyer and politician, and a Union general during the American Civil War.

McClernand: Where does the name McClernand come from?

The surname McClernand is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Leamhrain". This name is made up from the elements “mac”, meaning son of, and “Leamhrain”, a personal name implying shininess or glossiness. The Scottish McClernands slowly migrated to different regions over the centuries, with some settling in Ireland and many others migrating during the period of the Great Famine in the mid 19th century to places like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Today, variations of the surname can still be found in these places, with a particularly high concentration in the United States, specifically in states with a historically high Irish and Scottish population, such as New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts. The name is not extremely common, but it persists in these areas to the present day.

Variations of the surname McClernand

The surname McClernand appears to be of Irish origin. It's likely a variant of the surname McLernon or MacLernon which is actually derived from the Gaelic "Mac Leamrun" meaning "son of the servant of (Saint) Ernán".

In terms of variations and alternate spellings, there doesn't seem to be a large variety, possibly due to its less common occurrence. It may be found as McLernon, McLernan, or even MacLernon. Transcriptions errors in historical records might also lead to variations like McLearnand or McLarnand. However, these are not established variants and are probably not widely used.

Remember that surname variants can occur due to a variety of reasons, like regional dialects and literacy levels at the time of record-keeping, so it is always good to consider possible phonetic alternatives when researching genealogy.

As a surname of Irish origin, McClernand may have been influenced by the anglicization process, though it seems to have retained a relatively close resemblance to its Gaelic root. The addition of prefixes like Mc or Mac can also suggest the patronymic nature of these names.

Famous people with the name McClernand

• John A. McClernand: was a lawyer and an American politician and a Union general in the Civil War, member of the United States House of Representatives.
• Eliza Mcclernand: was the niece of President James Polk, who was appointed by him as manager of the White House.
• Ephraim Martindale McClernand: was a Confederate Major General during the Civil War.
• Thomas J. McClernand: was a Democratic politician and a United States congressman from Illinois.
• Jonathan B. McClernand: was a Confederate cavalry provost-marshal during the Civil War.
• Bob McClernand: was an American actor.
• Mike McClernand: is an American contests-climber and paraglider.
• Jack G. McClernand: was a career US Navy officer and later a senior law enforcement executive on the staff of the US Department of the Treasury.
• Edgar McClernand: is a former American football player and coach.
• Edgar P. McClernand: was a lawyer and an American soldier who served in World War I 93rd Division and received the Medal of Honor for his services.

Other surnames

McClern