Surname MacQueon - Meaning and Origin
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MacQueon: What does the surname MacQueon mean?
The surname MacQueon is an anglicised form of the Gaelic MacShuibhne, which translates from Scots Gaelic as ‘son of Suibhne’. The given name Suibhne (anglicised as Shoon) is derived from the Gaelic root word sobhann, meaning ‘generous’. Therefore, the surname MacQueon signifies descendants, or sons, of a generous man.
The MacQueon clan originated in the northwest region of Scotland, particularly in County Donegal, Ireland. Records indicate that the clan dates back to the 12th century when it was mentioned in the records of the Castle of Duancill. During the time of the Highlanders and Lowlanders war in Scotland, many MacQueons were among those who were loyal to the Clan Chieftain of Ireland.
The MacQueons were fierce warriors and often engaged in battle with their enemies. In the Battle of Corran O’Neal in 1568, the MacQueons were noted for their strong loyalty to their clan chief, and many members of the clan were killed in the fight.
Today, many members of the MacQueon clan still live in County Donegal, but there are also many spread throughout Europe and North America. Many of the descendants of the original MacQueons are proud of their heritage and carry the name with great honour.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQueon: Where does the name MacQueon come from?
The surname MacQueon appears to be of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic language. Typically, the prefix "Mac" in Scottish and Irish surnames means "son of," suggesting that its bearer is a descendant of a person named Queon. However, it is important to note that the name MacQueon is not common and is, in fact, quite rare. The spelling of the name suggests that it might have been anglicized at some point, which is a common occurrence for many Gaelic names. Its precise origin, meaning, and historical distribution might therefore be difficult to trace. MacQueon isn't recognized as a prevalent surname in any particular region today. It might still be in use by families of Scottish heritage, but likely dispersed in various parts of the world due to global migration patterns. Thus, while it's not common anywhere, individuals bearing this surname can likely be found in countries with high populations of people of Scottish descent, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname MacQueon
The surname MacQueon is of Scottish origin. This tends to denote that the name comes from either a geographical location or the name of an ancestor. As is the case with many surnames that originated as descriptions of traits or professions, there could be multiple original sources.
Variants could include MacQuen, McQueon, McQuen, MacQuion, or McQuion. This surname may also be spelled MacQueen, McQuinn, or McQueen frequently, as changing "eo" to "ea" or "i" is a common type of linguistic shift.
Surnames of the same origin include other Scottish names starting with "Mac" or "Mc", indicating "son of", followed by another name. Most obviously, this includes the name MacQueen, indicating the son of Queen. Other surnames from the same origin could include MacKinnon, MacGregor, MacLean, MacKay, etc., with their "Mc" equivalents. These are all classic Scottish surnames, each with its own set of spelling variations.
All these names, including MacQueon, follow the same Scottish naming pattern, with the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" meaning "son of", followed by an identifier.
Famous people with the name MacQueon
- Greig MacQueen: Scottish actor, best known for his role in the 2015 movie Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender.
- Flora MacQueen: British actress best known for her role in the period drama Downton Abbey.
- Adam MacQueen: Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.
- Malcolm MacQueen: Canadian actor and director best known for his work on the television series Haven, Supernatural and X-Files.
- John MacQueen: Scottish actor best known for playing Doctor Joseph Stone in the BBC science-fiction drama Outcasts.
- Angus MacQueen: British actor and director, most notably known for his role in the independent movie Glasgow Kisses.
- Stephen MacQueen: British actor known for his roles in British television series, including Torchwood and Doctor Who.
- David MacQueen: British-American singer and songwriter, best known for his single “Mars Needs Women”.
- Rhona MacQueen: Scottish singer-songwriter who has released several albums, her most recent being 2011's “Take Me to the Stars”.
- Martha MacQueen: Canadian singer and actress, most notably known for her role as Opal in the 2013 Christmas movie Reindeer Games.