Surname McMahan - Meaning and Origin

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A. McMahan

McMahan: What does the surname McMahan mean?

The last name McMahan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Mathghamhna, where "Mac" means "son of" and "Mathghamhna" means "bear". So the literal meaning of McMahan is "Son of the Bear". It was likely used as a nickname for a person who was strong and brave, like a bear, before becoming a hereditary surname. It's common for Gaelic and Celtic surnames to refer to the characteristics of the original bearer. The surname McMahan is widespread in Ireland, especially in the regions of Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary. Variants of the surname include McMahon, MacMahon, and Mahon among others.

McMahan: Where does the name McMahan come from?

The surname McMahan is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mathghamhna," meaning "son of Mathghamhain." Mathghamhain is a personal name that literally translates to "bear." So, the original McMahans were likely descendants of a man named Mathghamhain.

The name first appeared in the county of Clare, on the west coast of Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. In Irish, the name is often written as Mac Mathúna.

Today, the name McMahan (also spelled McMahon) is common in English-speaking countries such as Ireland, the United States, and Great Britain. The highest number of McMahans can be found in the United States, particularly in states with strong Irish heritage like Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile in Ireland, it is most common in regions such as County Clare and County Monaghan where the family was historically based.

Variations of the surname McMahan

The surname McMahan originates in Scotland and Ireland, deriving from the Gaelic name Mac Mathghamhna, meaning 'son of bear'. Its spelling has evolved differently over centuries and geographical locations, resulting in several variants.

Common variations in English-speaking world include McMahon, MacMahon, M'Mahon, and MacMahan, while in Gaelic, it could be Mac Mathúna or Mac Mathghamhna. Some versions have omitted 'Mac' entirely, resulting in surnames like Mahon or Mathon. Anglicization has also introduced surnames like Bingham, which derived from MacBingham, a form of McMahan.

In the United States, misspellings and variants due to pronunciation have further diversified the surname: McMahen, McMahan, McMahin, MacMahan, McMann, and McMahan are seen. Rising usage of initials led to abbreviated forms such as M’Mahon or M’Mahan. Phonetic variations like McMain, McMane or McMean could be attributed to regional accents.

Additionally, the surname may vary in prefixes, for instance, McMahon could appear as O'Mahon, indicating 'descendant of Mahon'. MacMahons have also been known to shorten to 'Mac' or entirely drop it.

Depending on the context, nearly all these variants might denote the same lineage, despite the different spellings.

Famous people with the name McMahan

• Stephanie McMahon: An American businesswoman and professional wrestling personality. She is the chief brand officer of WWE and appears as an on-screen authority figure and occasional wrestler.
• Vince McMahon: An American professional wrestling promoter and executive, and owner of WWE. He has also served as an announcer, commentator, and professional wrestler.
• Shane McMahon: An American businessman and professional wrestler. He is the son of Vince McMahon, the owner of WWE.
• Linda McMahon: An American political executive and former professional wrestling executive. She served as the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
• Jim McMahon: A former American football player. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).
• Julian McMahan: An Australian actor best known for his roles on "Nip/Tuck" and "Charmed".
• Sara McMann: An American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler.
• Jeff Mcmahan: An American philosopher specializing in ethical and political philosophy.

Other surnames

McMahenMcMahon