Surname MacLarnon - Meaning and Origin

MacLarnon: What does the surname MacLarnon mean?

The last name MacLarnon is of Irish origin, and is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhionáin which translates to mean 'son of the follower of St. Finan'. The surname is associated with the historic kingdom of Dal Riata which is located in modern-day Scotland and Northern Ireland.

MacLarnon is thought to have originated as a territorial name for someone who lived in Co. Derry, Ireland. The predominant clan during this time was the powerful Maguire clan, and the surname MacLarnon is associated with them as a sept of the clan. In addition, the name is also associated with the Scottish Clan MacFarlane.

The current Scottish Clan MacFarlane is mainly located in the north-east of Scotland, but there is also evidence of a small number of MacLarnons who settled in the north-east of England. Although the origins may vary, the MacLarnon name is believed to be derived from a Gaelic origin.

The name MacLarnon is quite rare, with only a small number of families located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. The rareness means that the lineage of the family is difficult to trace, and as a result, many details regarding the history of the family are unknown.

All in all, the last name MacLarnon has a strong Gaelic-Irish and Scottish heritage, and holds a long and interesting history.

MacLarnon: Where does the name MacLarnon come from?

The last name MacLarnon is found primarily in Ireland today, although it has also spread to places as far-reaching as Canada and the United States. In Ireland, the name is primarily found in northeastern Ulster, which includes parts of County Down, County Antrim, and County Londonderry.

In the past few centuries, the name would have been intertwined with the history of Ulster, Ireland. This area was the site of heavy settlement by Scottish clans during the Plantation of Ulster in the 17th Century, which is why the name MacLarnon may have made its way to Ireland.

Due to migratory patterns and increased globalization, the MacLarnon name is also found in Europe, North America, and Australia. McLearen families have had a long history in Canada, and the surname is found in places such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and British Columbia. In the United States, the name is most common in Pennsylvania, but it can be found in other states, too.

In Australia, the name is found in New South Wales. There is evidence that some members of the McLearen family had a presence in New South Wales during the 19th Century.

No matter where the MacLarnon family travels, it has always been associated with the same values of faith, family, and loyalty that have held true for centuries.

Variations of the surname MacLarnon

The surname MacLarnon is an Irish surname most likely taken from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Oirnín meaning "son of the servant of Saint Erny." Its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include McLarnon, McLarnan, McLarnin, McLarnine, McLourney, McLarney, Mac Giolla Oirnín and MacGilleornin.

McLarnon is the more common spelling and is found mainly in Tyrone and parts of Antrim. The spelling McLarnan is more commonly found in the Irish counties of Donegal and Galway. McLarnin, McLarney and generally McLarnine are generally found in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland; as are McLourney or MacGilleornin.

Many anglicised versions of the name in Northern Ireland are probably due to the plantation of Ulster in the 17th Century when Scots, English and Welsh migrated to the province.

Spellings of the name in Scotland and England are more likely to be the result of Irish emigration in the 18th and 19th century when industralisation drew people from rural communities to cities in need of labour, mostly in the north of England and cities such Scotland's Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Finally, many variant spellings can be found in the United States of America due to mass Irish emigration during the great famine of the mid 19th century.

Overall, MacLarnon has many different spellings, due to migration and cultural influences since the 12th century. Progressions in language, whether through the anglicisation of the name under British rule, or again under the wave of Irish migrants, have impacted the name in many different places but all of the variants can be said to share the same origin.

Famous people with the name MacLarnon

• Alex MacLarnon: an American actress, physical therapist and author
• Bronwyn MacLarnon: an actor and impressionist from Melbourne, Australia
• Eoghan MacLarnon: an Australian musician and singer-songwriter
• Georgia MacLarnon: a British film and television actress
• Marci MacLarnon: a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
• Michael MacLarnon: an Irish actor and author
• Niall MacLarnon: an Irish actor and singer
• Robbie MacLarnon: an English actor, author and filmmaker
• Sean MacLarnon: an American actor, director, and producer
• Shauna MacLarnon: an American actor and producer

Other surnames

MacLarney