| ![Show Contents]() McErlean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of McErleanWhat does the name McErlean mean? MacErlean is a phonetic interpretation of the Irish Mac an Fhirléighinn, which means the "son of the learned man or lector," from the Gaelic "fear léighinn 'man of reading'." This was the title held by the head of a monastic school. 1 It is important to note that this name hails from ancient Ireland, but by the 12th century can be found in Ireland and Scotland as "the firleighinn or ferleighinn was the head of a monastic school both in Scotland and in Ireland. In Iona in 1164, we find Ferleighinn Dubside as one of the officials of the monastery, and in the following century the name is still preserved in connection with the church of St. Andrews." 2 Early Origins of the McErlean familyThe surname McErlean was first found in near Sligo town, County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, in the 15th century. In Scotland, "the name occurs as Virolecus in Adamnan as that of a man in Airchartdan (Glen Urquhart) baptized by the saint during his visit there. About 1211 Laurence, archdeacon and ferlan, head of the schools of St. Andrews, appears in connection with a dispute with the prior and canons; his title is Latinized Fertanus and Ferleynus. Morice Macinnn egin obtained possession of the perpetual vicarage of S. Comanus's in Ila after he had become excommunicate. In 1443 Donald, son of Dominic Macnafirlegind, perpetual vicar of S. Comanus's (Kilchoman), evidently a relative, was accused of being "a notorious fornicator." On the Kilchoman Cross is the inscription: Hec est crux foc(ta) pro animabus Doncani mec Innirlegin et Mari et Michaelis, "This is a cross made for the souls of Duncan, son of the lector and Mary and Michael." Its date may be about 1420 or 1430." 2 Early History of the McErlean familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McErlean research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1603 and 1660 are included under the topic Early McErlean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McErlean Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: MacErlean, MacErlen, MacErlyn, McErlean, McErlane, McErlain, McErlenn, MacNerlin and many more. Early Notables of the McErlean familyAnother 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McErlean Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| McErlean migration to the United States | + |
McErlean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Patrick McErlean, who was naturalized in Illinois in 1844
- Patrick McErlean, who was naturalized in New York in 1850
- John McErlean, who was naturalized in Philadelphia in 1850
- Peter McErlean and his family, who landed in New York in 1853
- Matthew McErlean, who arrived in New York in 1856
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
McErlean Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Lizzie McErlean, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, in 1900
- Ellen McErlean, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, in 1900
- William McErlean, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Antrim, in 1903
- Michael McErlean, aged 21, who settled in America from Knockloughrim, Ireland, in 1909
- James McErlean, aged 20, who immigrated to America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1912
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name McErlean (post 1700) | + |
- Keith McErlean, Irish actor from Donegal, known for Sing Street (2016), Flyboys (2006) and Goldfish Memory (2003)
- MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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