Surname McClung - Meaning and Origin
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McClung: What does the surname McClung mean?
The surname McClung originates from Scotland and is derived from the pre-7th-century Old Gaelic term "Mac-Lunga", which means "son of the mariner". It was a surname given to the sons of sailors or sea warriors, particularly from the western coast and Highlands of Scotland. Over time, the surname came to be spelt in numerous ways such as MacClung, MacLung, MacLong, and others. It is not uncommon for Gaelic surnames to have several variations due to the translation from Gaelic to English and the various spelling standards throughout history. The McClung family crest's motto is "by sea and by land", further highlighting the sea-faring roots of the surname. Today, many branches of the McClung family can be found in America, primarily because of Scottish emigrants who fled to America during the time of the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMcClung: Where does the name McClung come from?
The surname McClung is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic word "MacLeannain", which translates to "son of Leannan". This term further breaks down into "Lean", meaning a cloak, and "an" a diminutive suffix. So it can mean "the son of the small cloaked one".
Many bearers of this surname can trace their roots back to Scotland where their ancestors were first known to have the McClung surname, particularly in the region of Galloway in Southwestern Scotland. The surname likely began appearing around the 12th-13th century in the region.
Today, the name is commonly found in the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to historical migration and the Scottish diaspora. However, it still has a significant presence in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It's noteworthy that McClung is not an extremely common surname globally, therefore it isn't highly concentrated in particular areas outside of its historical roots.
Variations of the surname McClung
The surname McClung is a variant of the Scottish surname MacLung, stemming from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Fhaolain" translating to "son of the servant of St. Fillan." Fillan is an Irish saint who was widely venerated in Scotland. Variants of this surname can be greatly influenced by pronunciation, translation, and regional dialects over many centuries.
Alternate spellings and variations of the surname McClung include MacLung, McCLlung, McClungg, MacClung, McLeung, McClong, MacClong, M'Clung, and MacClungh.
Other phonetically similar alternate spellings include Maclung, McClone, McClune, or even McLeong due to pronunciation and transcription differences. Slight differences in the dialectal pronunciation of Gaelic words could also have led to variations like MacLuinn or MacCluin.
Surnames of the same root would include MacLagan, MacGillivray, MacIlwaine, or any other name starting with "Mac" or "Mc" followed by an element starting with "L" (which stands for 'Layperson' or 'servant') and then the name of a saint or holy figure.
It is also important to note that geographic relocations can lead to further variations as names adapt to different languages and dialects.
Famous people with the name McClung
- Clara McClung: Known as one of the most powerful female voices of the women's suffrage movement in Canada, Clara McClung was an influential leader and activist.
- Leonidas Currie McClung: Leonidas Currie “L.C.” McClung was an American politician who was the 36th governor of Tennessee from 1919 to 1921 and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1925 to 1933.
- Willa Cather McClung: Willa Cather McClung was a Canadian born social reformer and feminist. She was involved in many organizations to support the rights of women, children, and workers in Canada and the United States.
- Ruth Eggleston McClung: Ruth Eggleston McClung was an American labor leader, suffragist, social reformer, women’s rights activist, and politician.
- Lillian Estelle Fisher McClung: Lillian Estelle Fisher McClung was an American labor organizer, suffragist and social reformer. She was instrumental in getting the right for women to vote in Tennessee.
- Jack M. McClung: Jack M. McClung was an American psychologist who had extensive experience in educational and psychological testing.
- Alfred William McClung: Alfred William McClung was a World War II veteran, who served in the United States Army Air Corps.
- Hayward B. McClung: Hayward B. McClung was an American lawyer and judge who served in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.
- Maude (McClung) Hester: Maude (McClung) Hester was a successful American inventor and entrepreneur. She was the first African-American woman to receive a U.S. patent.
- Nellie McClung: Nellie McClung was a Canadian feminist, politician, author, suffragist, and social activist. She was part of the Famous Five who helped to gain the right of Canadian women to vote.