Surname McGlaughon - Meaning and Origin

McGlaughon: What does the surname McGlaughon mean?

The last name McGlaughon is of Irish origin, often Anglicized from the Gaelic surname Mac Lochlainn. The prefix "Mac" means "son of" in Gaelic, while "Lochlainn" has been speculated to mean "Viking" or "stranger from the lake." Thus, the surname McGlaughon could denote descendancy from a familial line of "sons of Lochlainn". It's worth noting that this surname was borne by a powerful medieval family who ruled large territories in the northwest of Ireland. The spelling of Gaelic names in English frequently varies, so McGlaughon might also be spelt as McLaughlin, MacLochlainn, or other similar variations. The meaning of such a surname might give clues about historical ancestors, but it does not guarantee a direct or unique lineage. The etymological meaning of a surname should also not be interpreted as a literal definition of an individual with that name.

McGlaughon: Where does the name McGlaughon come from?

The surname McGlaughon has Celtic origins, specifically from Scotland and Ireland. "Mc" is a prefix in Scottish and Irish surnames that means "son of," while "Glaughon" could possibly be a derivative of a Gaelic personal name. The name suggests a patronymic origin where an individual was identified as the "son of Glaughon".

However, this surname, in this particular spelling, is not very common, so there may be a variety of interpretations for its origins. It might also be a variant of the slightly more common names "McLoughlin" or "McLaughlin," both with similar Celtic origins.

Today, the surname McGlaughon and its variants are more commonly found in countries where Scottish and Irish immigrants have historically settled. This notably includes the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Due to the widespread diaspora and the process of Anglicization of names, this name is now found scattered across the globe, though it remains relatively less common.

Variations of the surname McGlaughon

The surname McGlaughon is of Irish origin. Known variants of this surname, due to phonetic spelling and regional accents, include McGlohon, Mclaughon, McLaughlin, MacLoughlin, McLoughlin, MacLauchlan, McLauchlan, McGlauhon, McLauchan, McClaughan, and MacCloghan. Some of these variations can also be attributed to anglicization of the original Gaelic names.

The main root of these surnames, "Loughlin," means from "Lochlainn" or "Lake Land" which designated a Viking origin in ancient Ireland. Therefore, any surnames implying that root could arguably be included in this list such as Logan or Loughlin without the 'Mc' or 'Mac' prefix.

Surnames like McLaughlin and McLoughlin are pretty common, as the 'mc' or 'mac' prefix in Irish/Celtic means 'son of', implying that these surnames originally signified being the son of Loughlin or Lochlainn. The form with the 'G' (like McGlaughon) was likely due to attempts to preserve the original pronunciation after the name had been anglicized.

Spelling variants occurred largely due to illiteracy in past times, as people often spelled names as they sounded which resulted in many variations being recorded.

Famous people with the name McGlaughon

• Taylor McGlaughon: Professional Volleyball Player
• Stephen McGlaughon: Actor
• Shane McGlaughon: Union Official & Political Correspondent
• Liam McGlaughon: Stand-up Comedian & Writer
• Jack McGlaughon: Footballer
• Harry McGlaughon: Singer & Songwriter
• Ernie McGlaughon: Air Force Officer & Pilot
• Dave McGlaughon: Motocross Rider
• Colin McGlaughon: Professional Golfer
• Andrew McGlaughon: Football Coach

Other surnames

McGlaughn