Mcmillan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family name of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning tonsured or servant of Saint Millan
2. A surname of Gaelic origin common in Scotland and Ireland, borne by many people across the English-speaking world
3. Used as a family name, especially in Scotland and Ireland, traced back to a Gaelic personal name linked with a saint

Etymology: In Gaelic, "maol" meant "bald" or "tonsured," and by extension a monk, since monks wore shaved crowns. The surname "Mac Mhaoláin" means "son of Maolán," a diminutive form built on that root. Maolán was a saint's name, and the surname likely reflects devotion to him, though the exact saint is debated among scholars. The name belongs to the Gaelic-speaking west of Scotland, especially Galloway and Argyll, where it was borne by a clan with that name. Its Irish cognate, "Mac Maoláin," produced spellings such as Mulligan-like variants in some regions, though the Scottish McMillan and the Irish forms are not identical in origin. Spellings vary widely, including "McMillen," "Macmillan," and "MacMillan," as Gaelic names were anglicised in written records.