Surname McClinton - Meaning and Origin

iGENEA DNA Test: Revelation of Ancestry and Perspective Shift On McClinton Identity

The iGENEA DNA test has greatly enriched my understanding of my ancestry, significantly changing my view of the McClinton surname and influencing my sense of family identity. Discovering the rich history of my ancestors and their cultural significance has instilled immense pride in my heritage.

T. McClinton

McClinton: What does the surname McClinton mean?

The last name McClinton is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Glincan which translates to “son of Glincan”. Glincan himself derives from the Celtic personal name Glinneach meaning “fox-like” or “wily”. The surname is particularly associated with County Donegal in Ireland, but may also be found elsewhere in Ireland in smaller numbers.

The McClinton family originated in Ulster in the north of Ireland in the 14th century and spread to Scotland and England during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is thought that the family itself was of Scottish origins, having migrated to the North of Ireland with the Scot's Plantation in 1608-09. The McClinton family were prominent landowners in the 17th and 18th century, and had several branches with established estates in Donegal.

Many people with the McClinton surname are now located in the USA, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere in the English-speaking world. The growth in emigration following the potato famine of the 1840s and onwards has contributed to the expansion of the McClinton family around the world.

In Irish culture, the last name McClinton has come to represent a link to a proud ancestry as well as the opportunities that new generations of the family might glimpse in the future. This is symbolized in the Irish blessing “May the luck of the McClintons be with you”.

McClinton: Where does the name McClinton come from?

The last name McClinton is most commonly found in areas of the United States with historically large African-American populations. In the 2020 United States Census, McClinton was counted in both Georgia and Alabama, though not much further north. It was also counted in Mississippi, with smaller concentrations in North and South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. With a real sense of history in the South, McClinton has ties to the Civil War and other essential moments in American history.

The McClinton family originated in Virginia in the early 1700s with a man named William McClinton, born around the year 1710. He was half African-American and half Native American, making his family one of the earliest families of mixed-race heritage in the United States. After the American Revolutionary War, many of his descendants moved to the Deep South, settling around the states of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

As of now, most members of the McClinton family still reside in the Southern states as well as parts of the Midwest, especially in cities such as Chicago and New York. It is generally accepted that a majority of McClinton descendants are of African-American descent, tracing their lineage back to William. Over the years, the name has branched out, with further generations where individuals may have Caribbean, Native American, or other backgrounds. The legacy of William McClinton lives on in the strength and diversity of the McClinton family name.

Variations of the surname McClinton

The McClinton surname is most likely derived from Mac Gille Fhionntain, an old Scottish Gaelic name that means "son of the servant or follower of Saint Finnan". There are a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the McClinton surname. Some of the variants of the name are MacClinton, McClinton, McCleughin, Gille Fhionntain, Cline, McLintock, McGlintock, and McLendon.

The surname was originally used to distinguish someone who followed a specific leader or religious figure in Scotland. McClinton is derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Fhionntain, which has several variants itself. The most frequent spelling of the surname found in Scotland is MacGlintock. It is also common to see McGlintock, McLintock, and McLeughin, all of which are variants.

McClinton is easily recognizable in the United States from the 1830s onward. This is due to Thomas McClinton, who is believed to be the first to take the name to America from Scotland. The MacClinton spelling, which makes the name less Gaelic and more Anglicized, is much more common in the United States today.

Other spellings that are found in Scotland include Gille Fhionntain, Cline, and McLendon. The Gaelic Gille Fhionntain, which translates to "servant of Saint Finnan," is the earliest form of the name from the 1600s. Cline is also a more Anglicized version of McClinton found in Scotland. Finally, McLendon is another spelling typically found in Scotland where it is popular among the clans.

In conclusion, the McClinton surname is of Scottish origin and is derived from the old Gaelic name Mac Gille Fhionntain. There are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including MacClinton, McClinton, McCleughin, Gille Fhionntain, Cline, McLintock, McGlintock and McLendon.

Famous people with the name McClinton

• Delbert McClinton: Country music singer and songwriter
• Trinity McClinton: Actress
• Bo McClinton: Former professional American football defensive back
• Dave McClinton: former professional American football running back
• Conni Jean McClinton: Former professional basketball player
• Marcellus McClinton: Former professional basketball player
• Tommy McClinton: Former professional basketball player
• Will McClinton: Former professional basketball player
• Fred McClinton: Former professional baseball player
• Harrison McClinton: Former professional baseball player
• Aaron McClinton: Professional wrestler
• Deron McClinton: Professional wrestler
• George McClinton: Former professional baseball player
• Henry McClinton: Former professional baseball player
• Jimmy McClinton: Former professional baseball player
• Marion McClinton: Actor and theater director
• Swan McClinton: Painter
• Terry McClinton: Jazz musician
• Abe McClinton: Musician, songwriter, and artist
• T-Bone McClinton: Grammy Award-winning blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

Other surnames

McClinticMcClintickMcClintock