Where does the name mcmillan originate from?

Question

Where does the name mcmillan originate from?

Answer 1

Surname: Macmillan

Recorded as MacMillan, McMillan, McMolan and at various times Makmulane, Makmyllen, Makmyllane and others, this is a famous medieval Scottish and sometimes Irish, clan surname. It derives from the pre 10th century Old Gaelic Mac ghille Mhaoil, later contracted to Macmhaolain. It translates as the son of the follower of the holy man, with "mhaoil" meaning tonsured or bald, and hence applying to a devotee of a saint. As to whom the particular saint was is not known, but the clan occupied lands in Isla from the earliest times, when they were associated with Clan MacDonald of the Isles. The surname is first recorded in the mid 13th century (see below), whilst early examples of the recordings include Sir Duncan Macmolane, a Pope's knight, who appears on record in Edinburgh in 1452, and John Makmilane or Makmylan who was balie of Glasgow in 1454. The MacMillan clan had possession of land near Knap on Loch Suibne, and a boulder on the shore is said to have had engraved on it in Gaelic; "Macmillan's right to knap while wave strikes rock". The wide range of church recordings throughout the British Isles include the christening of Thomas, the son of John and Elizabeth MacMillan, on August 3rd 1834 at St. Sepulchre church in the city of London, and the christening of Frederick MacMillan on June 13th 1866 at Mullingar, in Ireland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillemor MacMolan. This was dated 1263, when he was a juror on an inquest in Lanarkshire, in the "Acts of Parliament of Scotland", during the reign of King Alexander 111rd of Scotland, 1249 - 1289.

Answer 2

McMillan (or as it is more commonly spelled in Scotland, Macmillan) is derived from the Anglicized translation of the Gaelic "Mac Maolain", a patronymic (which translates son of) for the nickname "Maloan", a diminutive of "maol", meaning "bald" or "tonsured".

Robert Bain notes that the Macmillans are possibly connected with the Chattan and Buchanan clans since they are all of ecclesiastical origin.  According to Bain, "The Macmillans were in the Loch Aarkaig district in the 12th century when it is alleged they were removed to the Crown lands around Loch Tay.  About two centuries later, they were driven from Lawers, and the greater part number settled in Knapdale, while others traveled further south and the branch in Galloway is claimed to be of the later number" (210).

The Port of New York lists the following places of origin for immigrants named McMillan:

Scotland 266

Ireland 101

Great Britain 55

England 33

Britain 12

Canada 5

Within Scotland itself  the 1891 census reveals that most individuals with the surname of McMillan lived in Argyll (19 percent) and Invernesshire (8 percent).  Of course, each family with the McMillan or Macmillan surname needs to trace its own family origins to exactly determine ancestry. You might, however, try the Macmillan Clan web site: http://www.clanmacmillan.org/

Answer 3

Argyllshire, Scotland.

Answer 4

I found this on www.ancestry.com

McMillan Name Meaning and History

Scottish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Maoláin, a patronymic from the byname Maolán, a diminutive of maol ‘bald’, ‘tonsured’. In Scotland the usual spelling is Macmillan. Compare Mullen.

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