Surname McGlackin - Meaning and Origin

McGlackin: What does the surname McGlackin mean?

The last name McGlackin is a Scottish surname, originally from the Glasgow area of Scotland. It is thought to have been derived from a personal name, which was often a nickname or a pet name given to someone who was the tenth child in a large family. This nickname was McGlackin, and is believed to mean, ‘son of Glack’. Glack itself was a district in Glasgow now known as Partick, where the McGlackin family are thought to have originated.

The McGlackin name first appears in records during the 16th century, and the family is believed to have come from a strong Irish heritage. The family have had a long and proud history of serving in the British military, as well as having many prominent members of society throughout the years.

The McGlackin family is known for its dedication to maintaining its identity as a clan and its commitment to upholding traditional values. This is often evident in the last name McGlackin's frequent use of family mottos, such as ‘Honor in Thy Fight’. This phrase is often used as a reminder to the family to maintain their strong sense of identity and honor.

Today, the McGlackin family is still prominent in Scotland, and it is likely that many of its members still live in the Glasgow area. As with many families, they have seen changes in their lifestyle and identity, but their dedication to upholding their traditional values remains.

McGlackin: Where does the name McGlackin come from?

The last name McGlackin is primarily found in the British Isles today, with the greatest number existing in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England. The name is considered to be of Gaelic origin, emerging out of a history of clan and family intermarriage.

McGlackin is both rare and uncommon – it is one of the 1% of surnames that exist in any given country today. In Scotland specifically, this surname is considered fairly unusual, making up less than 1 in 200,000 of the population. Outside of the British Isles, the name is not as popular – one can find McGlackins in other parts of the world, but in much smaller numbers.

When it comes to family histories, some McGlackins can trace their heritage back to the time of the Ulster Plantation in Ireland, which ran from 1607 to 1641. During this period, there were a number of settlers from Scotland to Scotland who bore the name McGlackin. This is well evidenced today also, as many McGlackins are descendants of both Irish and Scottish lines.

Overall, the surname McGlackin is primarily found in Britain and Ireland today, but this is not to say that it isn’t found anywhere else. The name is still used in smaller numbers in other countries, and appears to have been around for centuries.

Variations of the surname McGlackin

The surname McGlackin is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic name Mac Glochain which originated in Ireland. It is an ancient name which dates back to the 11th century pre-plantation, when Gaelic culture and language was dominant. It is a patronymic surname, deriving from the Gaelic Mac meaning 'son of', and Glochain, an old pre-Norman Gaelic name. As with many Gaelic surnames, there may be many different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Some variants of McGlackin include MacGlacken, McGlacken, McGlachen, Glacken,

Glackin, Glackin, Glarkin and Glacken. In some areas MacGlochain or MacGlochin may be found as well. The surnames MacMaglochlain and Macklachlan may also derive from the same root word, meaning 'son of', as in MacGlochain.

Other spellings may include: Galkan, Glachan, Glackan, Glacken, Glackin, Glackon, MacLachlan, MacLaughlin, MacLachin, McLachlan, McLaughlan, McLaughlin, McGlockin, McGlockon and McLockin.

The name has been written in a variety of ways within different documents, thus leading to its multiple spellings. Slight variations in spelling can represent a single original surname, making it difficult to determine the exact spelling.

The surname is most commonly found in counties Donegal and Cavan in Ireland, as well as in a few other areas including the US, Australia and Scotland. Despite its antiquity, the McGlackin name is still relatively common in Ireland today.

Famous people with the name McGlackin

• Rory McGlackin: Professional darts player and former British Darts Organisation (BDO) World Championship contender from Northern Ireland.
• Una McGlackin: Irish actress, known for her portrayal of the red-haired Scarlett O’Hara O’Hara in the Irish movie hit, ‘The Commitments’.
• John McGlackin: Former sports commentator and journalist who wrote about British Olympic and Commonwealth games during the 70s and 80s.
• Mike McGlackin: Voice actor and comedian from Northern Ireland most well known for voicing many characters in UK television shows such as ‘Noah’s Island’ and ‘Bertha’.
• Jack McGlackin: Irish actor and television host, best known for presenting the long-running late night chat show ‘The McGlackin show’.
• David McGlackin: Former professional golfer and BBC Radio presenter who has worked in a variety of popular shows in the United Kingdom.
• Alan McGlackin: Still-life and portrait painter active in New York from the late 1800s.
• Jamie McGlackin: Former professional cyclist from Scotland, who competed in the Tour de France in 1987.
• Helen McGlackin: Dublin-based sculptor known for her public bronze sculptures featured around the city.
• Robert McGlackin: Author and blogger, well known for his book series, ‘The Chronicles of McGlackin’, which follows the life of an Irish family in Northern Ireland.

Other surnames

McGlacken