Surname MacLenaghan - Meaning and Origin
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MacLenaghan: What does the surname MacLenaghan mean?
The surname MacLenaghan, from the Irish Mac an Fhíonaigh, is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'Mac Uí Fhíonaigh' or 'Mac an Fhíonaigh', translating to 'son of the physician'. It is a common surname mainly in the province of Connacht, especially in County Mayo, and derived from an early family of O'Feenaghty medical practitioners. Historical records show that a sept of the O'Feenaghty clan was well established in the west of County Mayo, and records date back to the fourteenth century.
The MacLenaghan name is associated with many famous people in the arts, politics, sport and entertainment. For example, the famous Irish American film actor, Liam Neeson, is a descendant of the MacLenaghan family. As recently as the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, members of the family had prominent social and political roles in county Mayo, such as schoolmasters, shopkeepers, farmers, millers and even magistrates.
The MacLenaghan clan is also affiliated with the Knights of Malta, as a member of the clan served as Grandmaster of the knights, in the fifteenth century. Today, the MacLenaghan name is more widely spread, as the result of emigration from Ireland, and can be found in both Europe and the United States.
The MacLenaghan name is steeped in history and over generations, the MacLenaghans have played a part in creating a vibrant and prosperous cultural landscape. The legacy of the clan continues to this day, with many members and descendants proudly bearing the MacLenaghan surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMacLenaghan: Where does the name MacLenaghan come from?
The last name MacLenaghan is primarily found in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In Ireland, the name is most common in the provinces of Connacht and Ulster. Additionally, it is found throughout Scotland and England.
In terms of current occurrences of the name, MacLenaghan families are primarily centered in Belfast in Northern Ireland, mostly on the east side of the city. Additionally, researchers have found a few MacLenaghan families in Glasgow, Scotland and around Cornwall and Devon in England.
The surname is also found throughout the United States, though it is not as common as it is in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In the US, the highest concentrations can be found in California, New York, and Massachusetts.
More recently, the surname has spread to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It is most common in Ontario, with a few families found in the other provinces.
The surname MacLenaghan is a variation of the surname MacLoughlin, meaning “son of Loughlin.” It is believed to be the Anglicized version of the original Gaelic name MacLochlainn, which is derived from the Irish name Lochlann. The name is associated with the Lochlann tribe, who were one of the ancient Irish clans.
Variations of the surname MacLenaghan
The surname MacLenaghan has numerous spellings and variants, as many names did not form a standardized spelling until relatively recently. One variant of the name is MacClenaghan, with the C being a shorthand for Mac, a Gaelic prefix that denotes 'son of'. Others spellings include MacLangingan, MacLanagan, MacLanghin and MacLengohan.
The spelling MacLenaghan could also be found as Mac Leenaghan, MacLeinaghan and Mac Lewenaghan. And other forms of the name could be MacClenaghan, McClenaghan, McKinaghan, McGlinghan, McGlinghan and MacWilenaghan.
Surnames of similar origin to MacLenaghan include MacGlinchey, MacGloughlin and MacGinty, all of which are of Irish origin and deriving from the distinct Gaelic tribe of the diminutive McGlinns. The tribe were located in Co. Donegal, and some of their descendants still live in the area today.
Finally, some variant spellings of the name MacLenaghan can be found around the world, influenced by the immigration of the Irish. As well as the mainland UK and Ireland, the name can also be found in North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name MacLenaghan
- Jason MacLenaghan: an American producer best known for producing Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and Despicable Me.
- Kenneth MacLenaghan: an Irish rugby union footballer who is renowned for captaining Ireland in three international matches between 1993 and 1994.
- Emily MacLenaghan: an Australian actress who has appeared in and been involved in numerous productions, including Mystery Road, Jack Irish, Harrow, and Barracuda.
- Eric MacLenaghan: an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1988 to 1992 for the Baltimore Orioles.
- Charlie MacLenaghan: an English professional footballer who plays for Blackpool.
- Damien MacLenaghan: an Irish professional footballer and goalkeeper who plays for Linfield.
- Jean MacLenaghan: an American professional cook who has appeared on several cooking shows, including Food Network Challenge and Chopped Champions.
- Seamus MacLenaghan: an Irish-born writer who has published numerous books, such as Mad for the Road, Waging Heavy Peace, and On the Road to Clarity.
- Ciara MacLenaghan: an American dancer and choreographer, who has choreographed numerous shows including the hit TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" and the feature film All Eyes on Me.
- John MacLenaghan: an Australian professional golf player who has competed in several tournaments, and is currently a member of the PGA Tour.