McLean surname meaning

McLean is the familiar American spelling of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Eáin, “son of the servant—that is, devotee—of (Saint) John.” Gille names mark religious dedication rather than household service alone, so the surname is a patronymic built on a devotee byname. MacLean, Maclean, McLain, and McLane are sister Anglicizations; Irish McAloon and McGlone are related formulas. Clan Maclean tradition keeps the same Saint John sense. Parent’s name is the catalog type because of the Mac- descent structure, and the Saint John reading is high confidence.