Surname McMahen - Meaning and Origin

McMahen: What does the surname McMahen mean?

The surname McMahen is of Irish origin and is a variant of the surname McMahon. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mathghamhna" where "Mac" means "son of" and "Mathghamhna" means "bear." This suggests the ancestor of the McMahon clan might have been bearlike, implying strength or size. The McMahons were a powerful family in Ireland, particularly in the regions of Clare, Monaghan, and Fermanagh. Like many Irish surnames, different anglicized spellings have developed over time, including McMahen. Therefore, the surname McMahen could imply a person is a descendant of a strong or powerful individual from these Irish regions. However, it should be noted that surnames' meanings often do not reflect the individuals carrying them today as they are usually inherited patrilineally with no reference to personal characteristics.

McMahen: Where does the name McMahen come from?

The surname McMahen is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Mathghamhna, which means 'son of Mathghamhain.' The personal name Mathghamhain means 'bear' or 'bear calf.' Therefore, the surname McMahen metaphorically signifies the 'son of the bear.' It's a common way ancient Gaelic cultures attributed family names, often delineating them based on an ancestral male's characteristic or profession.

Today, the McMahen surname is relatively rare. Its presence is still evident in Ireland, but it may have evolved into other forms due to linguistic changes and diaspora. Many with this surname have migrated to other English-speaking countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia over the centuries. There are more McMahens in the United States than any other country, according to the Forebears surname database. The largest concentrations are found in Kentucky, followed by Ohio and Oregon. However, keep in mind that these statistics account for a very small proportion of the population in these regions given the rarity of the surname.

Variations of the surname McMahen

The surname "McMahen" is of Irish origin and has various spellings and surnames sharing the same origin, which can be attributed to phonetic translations and different dialects within the Irish language. The McMahen surname is occasionally 'Mac' rather than 'Mc', in such cases it is spelled as 'MacMahen'.

Common variants include "McMahan", "McMahon", "MacMahon", "McMann", "McMachen", "McMachan", "McMachon", "MacMann", "Mahon", "MacMahan", and "MacMachan". The 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefix stems from the Gaelic language, often meaning 'son of', which in this case refers to 'son of Mahon' or 'son of Mathan'. The variations come as a result of different phonetic translations of these names.

These surnames share the same derivation from 'Mathan', a Gaelic male first name meaning bear. Thus, all surnames that originated from 'Mathan' could be considered synonymous with McMahen. Other surnames that bear the 'Mathan' root include O’Mahon, Mathews, and Matthews, all having evolved independently but originally from the same root.

It's important to note that the geographical area, changes in language over time, and individual family choices have all influenced these surname variations. Therefore, tracing back the exact origin and understanding the relationship between these surnames may require in-depth genealogical research.

Famous people with the name McMahen

• David McMahen: Former Navy Captain and the secretary of the Navy between 2018 and 2020.
• Destin McMahen: Professional golfer who won the 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship.
• Luke McMahen: Professional alcoholic beverage taster and director of a premium barware company.
• Jacob McMahen: Professional tennis player and the winner of the 2009 NCAA Division III Singles Championship.
• Joe McMahen: Retired professional basketball player who played for multiple teams.
• Kimber McMahen: Former professional ice hockey player who competed for Team Canada during the 1998 Winter Olympics.
• Alexander McMahen: Professional photographer and digital artist who has had his work featured in multiple exhibitions and galleries.
• Kelly McMahen: American voice actress known for her roles in various animated series and films.
• Gavin McMahen: British actor best known for his roles in the TV series Call the Midwife and The Outs.
• Chloe McMahen: Host and contributing reporter for CNN, focusing primarily on international stories.

Other surnames

McMahanMcMahon