Surname McQueen - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing the Legacy of McQueen: A DNA-guided Journey through History with iGENEA

Unraveling the narrative behind my last name, McQueen, through iGENEA's DNA analysis uncovered a riveting journey of ancient Scottish origin, transcontinental migration, survival, and adaptation. Understanding the depth of my lineage fostered a deep respect for my ancestors and their tenacity.

R. McQueen

McQueen: What does the surname McQueen mean?

The surname McQueen is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name MacShuibhne, which means "son of Suibhne". The personal name Suibhne is thought to mean "pleasant" or "well-going". The name McQueen could therefore be translated to "son of the pleasant one". The surname was first found in on the Isles of Skye and Harris, where the McQueen family held a family seat from ancient times. Some of the first records of the name include Dugald McQueen who was imprisoned at Edinburgh in 1306 and later transported to Perth. A clan seat was found later in the 17th century at Garmony, on the Isle of Mull. The name has various spellings including MacQueen, MacQueon, MacSween, MacSwene, MacSweyne, and others. Today, the McQueen surname is widespread in UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Several notable individuals bear the surname, such as fashion designer Alexander McQueen and actor Steve McQueen.

McQueen: Where does the name McQueen come from?

The surname McQueen has Scottish origins, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Shuibhne, which means "son of Suibhne." Suibhne is a personal name that translates to "pleasant" or "well-going." The name was first common among members of a Scottish clan in the Inner Hebrides and Western Isles. In the Middle Ages, members of the Clan MacQueen settled in various parts of Scotland, including Skye and Black Isle.

Today, the name McQueen is frequently found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Scotland, England, and Australia. It is one of many names that spread extensively due to the waves of Scottish emigration in the 18th and 19th centuries, partly caused by hardships such as the Highland Clearances. Despite its northwestern Scottish origins, the name McQueen is now just as likely to be found in other parts of the English-speaking world.

Variations of the surname McQueen

The surname McQueen is of Scottish origin and primarily belongs to the descendants of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic clans. Variations of the name include MacQueen, MacQuean, MacSween, MacSwene, and MacSweyne. The "Mac" or "Mc" prefix in these names, originating from Gaelic, means "son of". This indicates that the original bearer of the surname was a son of someone named Queen, Quean, Sween or Swene.

Another interesting aspect of Scottish naming convention is that women usually keep the prefix "Nic" instead of "Mac" or "Mc", which signifies "daughter of". Hence, a woman of the same lineage might have a variant of the surname like NicQueen, NicSween etc.

Anglicized or simplified forms of these surnames also exist and the "Mac" or "Mc" prefix can often be dropped, converting the surname to simply Queen, Sween, etc.

The spelling can change based on regional dialects and historical record inaccuracies. For instance, "MacSwene" could be spelled as "Mackswain" or "Macksweyne". Similarly, ancient record keepers could spell "MacQueen" as "M'Queen", "M'Quean" or "M'Quene". These surnames, their variants, and spellings, therefore, trace back to the same Scottish lineage and indeed the same name origin.

Famous people with the name McQueen

• Steve McQueen: A prominent American film actor of his era known for his roles in "The Great Escape," "Bullitt," and "The Magnificent Seven."
• Steven Rodney McQueen: A British film director, producer, and screenwriter who is known professionally as Steve McQueen. His notable works include "12 Years a Slave," which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and "Shame."
• Alexander McQueen: A famed British fashion designer known for his unconventional and dramatic designs. He worked as chief designer at Givenchy and founded his own Alexander McQueen label.
• Neile McQueen: Also known as Neile Adams, she's a Filipino-American actress and singer. She was the first wife of Steve McQueen and starred in movies such as "This Could Be The Night" and "The Counterfeit Killer."
• Terrence McQueen: Known as Butterfly McQueen, she was an American actress famous for her role as Prissy in "Gone with the Wind."
• Chad McQueen: The son of Steve McQueen, he is an American film producer, actor, and race car driver. He starred in films like "The Karate Kid" and "New York Cop."
• Leeya Eliana McQueen: The daughter of Chad McQueen, she is an actress known for her work in "Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans."

Other surnames

McQueanMcQueaneMcQuearyMcQueeneMcQueeneyMcQueenieMcQueineMcQuene