McClanahan

McClanahan is an Irish surname that is derived from several anglicized forms of the Gaelic surname Mac Lennacháin or Mac Gille Onchon.[2]

McClanahan
PronunciationMcClanahan
Origin
Word/nameIreland-Scotland
Meaningderived from Mac Lennacháin, "The son of he who owns mantles," or Mac Gille Onchon, "The son of the servant of Oncho"
Region of originGaelic
Other names
Variant form(s)MacClannachan, MacClenaghan, M'Clenaghan, McClenaghan, McClanaghan
[1]

Etymology

The New Dictionary of American Family Names translates Mac Lennacháin as "the son of little Leannach" and Mac Gille Onchon as "The Son of the servant of Oncho."[3] Leanach means "possessing mantles".[2] Mac Lennacháin is sometimes written as MacClannachan, with variations including MacClenaghan, McClenaghan, M'Clenaghan.[4] Gille is a Gaelic word meaning "servant", more specifically a professional guide for sportsmen, especially in fishing and deerstalking.[5] Onchu, meaning "Mighty Hound", was an Irish warrior who participated in the Irish battle of Cuil Corra in 649 CE.[5]

Family motto

The family motto, as recorded in the McClanahan Coat of Arms, is "Virtue Is My Honor."[6]

Points of origin

The McClanahan name is also "Orange" or Protestant Irish, mostly coming from the Ulster area.[6] It is quite possible that the McClanahan family are Scotch-Irish, descended from those whose blood is a mixture of the native Irish and the Scots who came to Ireland in the plantation of Ulster. It is quite possible that they came to Ireland among the Scot-Presbyterian settlers, but it is certain that they lived in both counties long before the implantation. It is quite possible that this particular branch may have been native to Ireland. They are of Gaelic origin and have the bloodlines of both the Gaels of Erin and the Gaels of Albin.[6]

Noted McClanahans

References
  1. 1990 Census Name Files Archived 2010-10-07 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
  2. MacLysaght, Edward. More Irish Families. Irish Academic Press, 1982
  3. Smith, Elsdon C. New Dictionary of American Family Names. Harper and Row, 1973
  4. Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland., 1946
  5. Smith
  6. Baker, S.M. The McClanahan Families From Tennessee to Missouri. LofC #79-111740
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