Parent’s name
McMillan surname meaning
A Scottish surname, Anglicized from Gaelic Mac Maoláin, “son of Maolán,” a diminutive of maol, “bald” or “tonsured”; usually Macmillan in Britain.
The short story
McMillan is a Scottish Anglicization of Gaelic Mac Maoláin, “son of Maolán.” Maolán is a diminutive of maol, “bald” or “tonsured,” a byname often linked to a cleric or devotee. In Scotland and England the usual spelling is Macmillan; McMillen and Irish McMullen are close cousins. The surname is a classic Highland and Lowland patronymic rather than a place-name. Parent’s name is high confidence: even though Maolán began as a nickname, the hereditary surname is formed as “son of” that personal byname.
Also seen as: McMillan, MacMillan, Macmillan, McMillen, McMullen
Sources used
- Ancestry / DAFN entry for McMillan (Mac Maoláin; maol bald/tonsured; Macmillan)
- Ancestry / DAFN cross-ref Macmillan
- Names2020_LastNames_RaceHispanic_Top1000.xlsx (2020 Census)