Surname McClelland - Meaning and Origin

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Uncover a deep dive into a personal journey with the iGENEA DNA test, exploring the rich lineage of the Scottish surname, McClelland, establishing connections with international McClellands, and unveiling unknown genetic cousins.

P. McClelland

McClelland: What does the surname McClelland mean?

The last name McClelland is of Scottish and Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name MacillFhaolain. It's a patronymic surname, which means it's based on the name of a male ancestor. The original Gaelic name translates to "son of the servant of St. Fillan," with Fillan being an early Irish saint known for his missionary work in Scotland. The name might have been initially given to someone who worked for a religious order dedicated to St. Fillan. As such, the McClelland surname might denote a historical connection to religious service or a familial devotion to St. Fillan. Like many surnames, migrations, and varied spellings, such as McLelland and MacClelland, can be seen. Thus, the surname's meaning can vary slightly depending on its specific cultural and historical context.

McClelland: Where does the name McClelland come from?

The surname McClelland has roots in both Ireland and Scotland. Its origins can be traced back to Scottish Gaelic, from the elements "Mac," meaning "son of," and "Clelland," which means "Cleric" or "Clergyman." Thus, it essentially means "son of Clelland." In Ireland, it is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Leathain, implying "son of the servant of St Fillan," an Irish religious figure. Over the centuries, this surname has been seen in various forms such as McClellan, MacLellan, and McLelland.

Today, McClelland is most prevalent in the United States, with the highest concentration in Northern Ireland. It is also fairly common in Canada, Australia, Scotland, and England. The name is particularly prevalent in the U.S. states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Despite its Irish and Scottish origins, the name is much less common in these countries due to the migration patterns over centuries. Therefore, it can be deduced that the McClelland surname has spread considerably from its original homeland.

Variations of the surname McClelland

The surname McClelland has various spellings and forms that have derived from its original Gaelic form, Mac Gille Fhaoláin. Some of the popular variations include McLelland, MacLelland, MacLellan, McLellan, McClellan, McLellon, Mclelland, Mcclellan, MacClelland, McLelland, McClleland, MacClelland, and Maclellan.

These variants are due to regional changes in spellings, historical records, and mistranslation during immigration processes. It's worth noting that the prefix Mac or Mc used in many Scottish and Irish surnames signifies 'son of,' and as a result, forms without these prefixes, like Clelland, Cleland, or Clellan, are also related.

It also has associated sept names (branch families) which include Gibson and MacGibbon.

The use of different spellings for this surname is common in families that emigrated from Scotland and Ireland to other English-speaking countries. These alternate spellings were often result of the phonetics of a regional dialect being transcribed into the English language.

However, all these forms provide invaluable clues to the genealogical research of the McClelland and its related families. They are all connected by their origin from the Gaelic term "Gille Fhaoláin," which translates to "the son of the servant of St Fillan," indicating an early religious dedication in these families' history.

Famous people with the name McClelland

• Earle McClelland: Canadian businessman.
• John McClelland: Scottish footballer and manager.
• Maurice McClelland: American geographer, and professor of geographic sciences.
• Mike McClelland: former defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL).
• Angus McClelland: creative director, author and former CEO of MTV Australia.
• J. P. McClelland: former President and CEO of Levitt Corporation.
• Charles McClelland: former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
• Thomas McClelland: pastor and former president of the Northwest Baptist Convention.
• Jeff McClelland: American attorney and politician from Virginia.
• Edith McClelland: American women's rights activist.
• Ryan McClelland: Olympic swimmer from New Zealand.
• Emily McClelland: American actress and singer.
• Alan McClelland: Scottish fiddle and clarsach player.
• Donald McClelland: Australian politician. 15.Neil McClelland: American racing driver.
• Arthur McClelland: Scotland international rugby union player.
• Karen McClelland: Australian opera singer.
• Trisha McClelland: Uruguayan actress.
• David McClelland: American psychologist and professor.
• James McClelland: Australian Minister of State for Immigration.

Other surnames

McClellan