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Surname Mackquien - Meaning and Origin

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Mackquien: What does the surname Mackquien mean?

The last name Mackquien is of Scottish origin, and is derived from the Gaelic surname MacUighinn. The name derives from the Gaelic words mac, meaning ‘son’, and uighinn, meaning ‘dark’, ‘black’ or ‘swarthy’. As such, the name is generally translated as meaning ‘son of the dark one’.

The Mackquien surname is a common one in the Highlands of Scotland, especially in the north of Scotland. Historically, the Mackquiens were descended from Uiginn the Black, a Norse-era chieftain in the west of Sutherland. Uiginn’s descendants established two smaller branches, the Mackquiens of Strathnaver and those of Dunbeath. During the 15th century, the Strathnaver branch of the Mackquien family were lords of the barony of Mackquien.

In the social context, the Mackquien name was part of the rental society in the Sutherland area, where families or clans would occupy a certain area of land and pay rent for the privilege. The Mackquiens of Strathnaver were successful landholders and their seat of Skibo Castle remains a popular tourist attraction today.

The Mackquien name is still an important one in Scotland today, and is reflective of Scotland’s rich history and its people’s esteemed heritage.

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Mackquien: Where does the name Mackquien come from?

The last name Mackquien is most commonly found in the United States of America today. It is particularly prevalent in the states of Pennsylvania and New York, in addition to California and Texas. It is also found in other parts of North America such as Canada and Mexico, with fewer incidences elsewhere.

The origin of Mackquien can be traced back to England, with the earliest recorded records dating back to the twelfth century. It is believed to be derived from a location in the East Riding of Yorkshire called Macquen. As was the custom at the time, families that settled in the area took a version of the local place name as their own surname.

The Mackquien surname is thought to be related to other English surnames such as McIntyre, MacKenzie and MacKinnon, all of which share a similar spelling convention. It is likely that these families were related to one another in the distant past.

Despite its wide geographical spread, the Mackquien family is not particularly large, with fewer than three hundred thousand individuals estimated to have the name. This number is relatively small when compared to other surnames of English origin, such as Smith and Johnson. Thus the last name Mackquien is not particularly common in any one location, but it is still has a significant presence throughout North America.

Variations of the surname Mackquien

Mackquien is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Cuinn, used in Ireland since the 10th century by descendants of a warrior named Con. The surname has numerous spellings and variations, including Mackwell, Macqueen, Mackween, McKwain, MacEwen, McQuinn, MacQuin, Maquin, McKeon, MacKone, Makkonen, MacWeene, McWeene, MacCuinn, MacSwain, and Mackin.

The surname is derived from the Ulster Gaelic word "cuinn" meaning "wise" or "knowledgeable" and the Gaelic word "mac" meaning "son of". It is thus a patronymic surname, in which descendants were identified based upon the name of their father.

The name may also have originated from words with similar meanings in other Celtic languages. For example, "cuinneag" in Scottish Gaelic means "honey" and "cwmn" in Welsh means "hive". The surname could have been given to a person whose life was closely associated with bees and honey-making.

Regardless of it's origins, the surname Mackquien is not particularly common and is usually found in areas of Ireland where the Gaelic influence is strongest. The surname is found in both England and Scotland, where it is usually rendered as MacQuin or MacKwain.

Famous people with the name Mackquien

  • Jeanne Elspeth Mackquien: Canadian athlete and Olympian who competed in rowing at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.
  • Rachel Taitano Mackquien: the First Lady of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2009 to 2013.
  • Joyce Mackquien: British record producer who has worked with a variety of artists, from Blur to Little Mix, amongst others.
  • Ryan Mackquien: American mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  • David Mackquien: English actor who starred in the TV soap Brookside.
  • Cissy Mackquien: American singer-songwriter known for her concert performances, recordings, and songwriting.
  • Kim Mackquien: American television personality famous for her appearances on shows like The Tyra Banks Show and Dr. Phil.
  • Paul Mackquien: English former footballer who played as a striker for such teams as Wolves and Preston North End.
  • Robert Mackquien: Australian actor who has appeared in films such as Mel Gibson's Mad Max franchise and more recently in the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge.
  • Jonathan Mackquien: British composer and musician who has collaborated with artists such as FKA Twigs and John Legend.

Other surnames

M'AdamM'BaxterM'Callum/M'ColminM'Can/M'Kane/KeanM'ChoraldM'ClareneM'ClaringM'ClearenM'CleronM'CowisM'CoyM'CoyneM'CrackenM'CrackinM'CrakenM'CrakinM'CrynnollM'CrynnyllM'CubbeM'CubeinM'CubeneM'CubynM'CwbeneM'GeeM'GhieM'Gill/M'Geil/M'VeilM'GillechynyM'GillekyneM'GillychynaM'Guaire

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