McClendon
What is the origin of the last name McClendon?
Meaning and origin
The last name McClendon is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Lennain, meaning "son of Lennan." The prefix "Mac" indicates "son of," while "Lennan" likely refers to a given name or a specific geographical location. This surname, like many Scottish clan names, originated as a way to distinguish familial connections and ancestral ties within the community.
The longer story
McClendon is a last name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Mac Lennain, which means "son of Lennain." It is a patronymic surname, indicating descent from a male ancestor. The prefix "Mac" means "son of" in Gaelic, and "Lennain" likely refers to a first name or personal characteristic.
The McClendon surname has variant spellings, including McClendon, McClellan, MacLennan, and McLennan. Variations in spelling are common in surnames, due to changes in pronunciation and spelling over time and in different geographical locations.
The McClendon surname is primarily found in the United States, particularly in the southern states.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,907
McClendon was the 1,907th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 18,857 people, about 6.1 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like McClendon
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where McClendon is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.