Family History and Genealogy Resources by Surname
McLean Surname Origin
MacGillean. From a Highland chieftain of the name of Gillean, who was the progenitor of this family. This Gillean was a celebrated warrior, and was called Gilleanni-Tuoidh, from his ordinary weapon, a battle-ax, which in the Gaelic is Tuoidh, which his descendants wear to this day in their crest, betwixt a laurel and a cypress branch. The posterity of this Gillean were therefore called Mac Gillean, in all ancient documents, and now of modern date McLeans. 'Magh Leamhna,' in the County of Antrim, the estate of the McLeans or Macklins.
Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import; Arthur, William, M.A.; New York, NY: Sheldon, Blake, Bleeker & CO., 1857.
McLean Surname Meaning and Family Facts
McLean Last Name Meaning
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A McLean Family History Thought:
'I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me, those who were to come. I looked back and
saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front, to see my son, and his son, and the
sons upon sons beyond.
And their eyes were my eyes.
As I felt, so they had felt, and were to feel, as then, so now, as tomorrow and forever.
Then I was not afraid, for I was in a long line that had no beginning, and no end, and the hand of
his father grasped my father's hand, and his hand was in mine, and my unborn son took my right
hand, and all, up and down the line that stretched from Time That Was, to Time That Is, and Is Not
Yet, raised their hands to show the link, and we found that we were one...' --Richard Llewellyn in How Green Was My Valley