Surname McQuane - Meaning and Origin
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McQuane: What does the surname McQuane mean?
The last name McQuane is a Scottish/Irish surname of Clan MacFarlane. The name is derived from a Gaelic form of the noun ‘mac cuain’ which means ‘son of the hound’. This indicates that the original bearer of the name was the son of someone known as ‘The Hound’, a nickname made famous by the MacFarlane clan.
Being a Scottish/Irish name, McQuane is most commonly associated with the Scottish Highlands or the Irish County of Mayo, indicating that their ancestors likely originated from this area. In Scotland, the name may also be found in the Ulster province of Northern Ireland.
The MacFarlanes were once an important and powerful clan, having possessed large tracts of land for many centuries. They were known for their fierce loyalty and defence of the British crown in many battles, and have a long and rich history in both Scotland and Ireland.
The McQuane family was also part of this clan and, in many cases, were the traditional guardians of the ancestral MacFarlane Castle. They had a strong loyalty to the clan and some even served as commanders of its war bands.
Overall, the McQuane surname is strongly linked to the rich Scottish and Irish history. It is a proud part of a long and distinguished lineage, one that has been proven steadfast in its loyalty and devotion to the British Crown.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuane: Where does the name McQuane come from?
The last name McQuane is most prominently found in the United States and Canada, with smaller communities of the surname existing in Scotland and Ireland. In the U.S., the states with the most McQuanes are California, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Smaller concentrations of the surname are found in other states as well.
The exact origin of the McQuane name is not known, but Irish and Scottish records indicate it is derived from the Gaelic MacUighinn or MacQuin, which were both anglicized variations of a phrase meaning ‘son of the hound’. This phrase may have been used to refer to a hunter, with hunting being an important source of employment among ancestral McQuanes.
The modern-day McQuanes come from several different branches, with varying geographical, religious, and cultural backgrounds. While a majority of the surname are Scottish and Irish Catholics, there are a significant number who are of Protestant stock.
During the mid-1800s, many members of the McQuane clan emigrated from Ireland and Scotland to the United States and Canada in search of a better life. Today, the McQuane surname is still prevalent in these two countries, though its members are found in many other countries around the world as well.
Variations of the surname McQuane
The surname McQuane has several variants and spellings. Some of them are MacQuain, MacQuaine, MacQwan, MacQuany, McKwain, McQuay, MacQua, MacQuainy, MacQuarry, and MacQuire.
McQuane is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cuain, meaning ‘son of the hound’. It can be found in the 19th century records of County Donegal and County Derry in Northern Ireland.
The spelling of this surname has changed over time, with multiple spellings appearing in records from all over Ireland. The various spellings of McQuane can also be found in Scotland and parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The surname is said to have originated from the Clan MacQuain of the Gaels in Scotland, who were descended from Irish Chieftains. This surname was then adapted and adopted in Ireland.
McQuane is also a variant of McKinney, a Scottish clan descended from the Picts. Also related is the surname McDowell, a Scottish-Irish name derived from the Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill, meaning ‘son of the dark stranger.’
In some cases, the McQuane surname is also used as an anglicization of the Scottish surname MacWhirry, which means “son of the bootmaker”. Some common variants of this name include MacQuarie, Macquire and MacQuhirry.
Famous people with the name McQuane
- John McQuane, Canadian actor
- Ryan McQuane, American professional baseball player
- Sean McQuane, Canadian entrepreneur
- John McQuane, Canadian motorboat racer
- George McQuane, Canadian gold medalist wrestler
- Bill McQuane, Canadian hockey player
- Will McQuane, Australian politician
- Justin McQuane, American football player and coach
- Steve McQuane, Visual Effects Supervisor
- Joe McQuane, English-American football player