Surname McMillen - Meaning and Origin
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How My iGENEA DNA Test Reshaped My View on the McMillen Name and My Family Identity
I took an iGENEA DNA test that proved to be a journey through the annals of history. This DNA plunge unraveled my Celtic roots associated with the surname McMillen. The test dramatically shifted my perspective, attributing much more than blood relation to the concept of family.
C. McMillen
read moreMcMillen: What does the surname McMillen mean?
The surname McMillen is of Scottish origin. The prefix ‘Mc’ in Scottish and Irish names translates to 'son of'. Hence, McMillen would mean 'son of Millen'. This surname dates back to the Middle Ages in Scotland and is believed to be occupational, likely derived from a miller or an owner of a mill. The word 'mill' is from the Old English 'mylen' and Old Norse term 'mylna', referring to somebody who ground grain to make flour. Bearing occupational surnames was once a common practice, allowing individuals to be identified by their profession in the community. Therefore, the name McMillen could have identified a person as the son of a miller or a son of a person named Millen. It is also possible that McMillen might have a locational origin, coming from a place name. As patronyms and occupations evolved into permanent surnames, the name McMillen would have been passed down through generations, becoming a family name. It is important to note that the spelling of surnames often changed over centuries, and variations of the name McMillen include MacMillan, MacMullan, and MacMullen among others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcMillen: Where does the name McMillen come from?
The surname McMillen is of Scottish origin derived from the Gaelic "MacMaolain," which means "son of the tonsured one." It's believed to have originated from a religious designation, given to those monks who had the tops of their heads shaved as a symbol of their devotion to the faith.
The surname McMillen can be found in numerous spellings including MacMillan, MacMullan, McMullen, McMillan, MacMullen, and many others. The family's first recorded spelling was found in the late 12th century in Scotland, with Sir Duncan McMullen leading the family. Over time, the last name McMillan disseminated beyond Scotland, owing to Scottish immigration, initially to Ireland and later to North America, Australia, and New Zealand, due to various historic and socio-economic reasons.
Today, the name is commonly found in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the United States. In the US, the largest concentrations of individuals with the McMillen surname are in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California. As a relatively rare surname, those bearing the name McMillen are likely of Scottish descent or have roots tracing back to Scottish ancestry.
Variations of the surname McMillen
The surname McMillen originates from Scotland and Ireland. It has numerous variations, which may have arisen due to regional accents, literacy rates, or mistranslations. Some possible variants may include McMillan, MacMillan, MacMullan, McMillon, McMullan, and MacMilon.
Moreover, the Mac in the beginning of these names may also be replaced with Mc (both derived from Gaelic "mac" meaning "son of"). The form -en at the end may also change, adapting forms such as -an, -in, -on, or even -un.
The name may also occasionally be shortened entirely to Millan or Mullan, or lengthened with a prefix, with examples including O'Millan and O'Mullan. As the surname has thoroughly spread throughout English-speaking countries, more anglicized forms may also exist.
Note that the spelling may also change entirely upon immigration to non-English speaking countries, with surnames possibly being spelled phonetically according to the language of the destination country.
In general, variations of this name are widespread due to the different ways in which it can be spelled or pronounced, and also due to the different areas in which it is used. Therefore, there's a vast array of potential variations on the McMillen surname.
Famous people with the name McMillen
- Debra McMillen, American professional softball player
- Hal McMillen, American politician
- Christian McMillen, former professional NBA player
- Warren McMillen, American engineer and entrepreneur
- Mark McMillen, American television producer
- Henry McMillen, professional American baseball player
- Charles McMillen, former professional basketball player
- Ken McMillen, German-American alpine skier
- Jim McMillen, former NFL player
- Tom McMillen, former professional basketball player, U.S. Congressman, and businessman