Contents [hide]

McMullen History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McMullen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McMullen is a nickname for a bald person; the name may refer to a member of a religious order. The Gaelic forms of the name are Mac Mhaolain or Mac Ghille Mhaoil, both of which mean son of the bald or tonsured one.

However, the origins of the Clan have been shrouded in uncertainty, largely as a result of historians of the Clan Buchanan, and their insistence that both Clans have a common ancestry. Buchanan of Auchmar says that the MacMillans are descended from Methlan, second son of Anselan, a Buchanan Chief of the thirteenth century. His theory supports the Buchanan claim that the MacMillans are but a sept (sub-Clan) of the Buchanan rather than a Clan in their own right. This theory is supported by the contention that both Clans have an ecclesiastical origin: MacMillan being Anglicized from Maolanach, meaning a 'priest.' However, tradition may more properly ascribe the origin from a particular tribe in Moray that has descended from the ancient Pictish tribe of Kanteai, thought to have existed in the first half of the second century AD.

Early Origins of the McMullen family

The surname McMullen was first found in at Tayside, where in 1263 Cilleonan MacMolan appears on documents. 1 They arrived in Strathtay from the lands in Loch Arkaig after King Malcolm IV transplanted many Clans, including the MacMillans, from that region about 1160 AD. Later, about 1350, the Camerons, who had changed their name to Chalmers, drove them from their Strathtay territories.

In vacating the Strathtay, the Clan branched to many other areas, including Lochaber, Argyll and Galloway. The senior branch, however, were the MacMillans of Knapdale, and they held a grant from the Lord of the Isles inscribed in Latin on a rock at Knap: 'MacMillan's right to Knap shall be, as long as this rock withstands the sea.'

Malcolm Mor MacMillan had received this rock by the 14th century. His grandson Lachlan MacMillan died at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. Lachlan's son, Alan MacMillan of Knap, married the McNeill heiress and took over the Castle Sween. He erected a cross, which still stands to this day in Kilmory churchyard. The cross stands better than twelve feet high and is elaborately engraved, showing a Highland Chief hunting a deer on one side, and a claymore surmounted by certain Clan members on the other.

Early History of the McMullen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMullen research. Another 267 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1454, 1540, 1555, 1670, 1745, 1753, 1775 and 1790 are included under the topic Early McMullen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMullen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. McMullen has appeared in various documents spelled MacMillan, MacMullan, MacMullen, McMullen, McMullin, McMullan, McMillan, MacMullin and many more.

Early Notables of the McMullen family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir Duncan Macmolane, a Pope's knight, chaplain of the collegiate church of Kilmone, 1452; John Macmulan (Makmilane, or Makmylan), bailie (baillie) of Glasgow in 1454; Sir Fingon Makmulane, who was presented in 1540 to the chaplainry of Tibbermore in the diocese of...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McMullen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMullen Ranking

In the United States, the name McMullen is the 1,602^nd most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 2

Migration of the McMullen family to Ireland

Some of the McMullen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMullen migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

McMullen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel McMullen, who arrived in South Carolina in 1772 3
Alexander McMullen, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 3
Elizabeth McMullen, who arrived in St Augustine, Fl in 1786 3

McMullen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew McMullen, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1800 3
Samuel McMullen, who landed in America in 1800 3
Margaret McMullen, aged 41, who arrived in New Castle, Del in 1804 3
Martha McMullen, who landed in America in 1805 3
Mary McMullen, who arrived in America in 1805 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McMullen Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agnes McMullen, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Glasgow, in 1903
Annie McMullen, aged 43, who settled in America from Campbell, in 1906
Alice McMullen, aged 7, who landed in America from Belfast, Ireland, in 1912
Annie McMullen, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, Ireland, in 1912
Alan McMullen, aged 48, who landed in America from Kingstown, Ireland, in 1919
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McMullen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McMullen Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Lieut. Daniel McMullen U.E. (b. 1753) who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 he served in Sir John Johnstons Corps under Captain Singletons Company, married to Catherine Detlor having 6 children 4
Mr. Daniel McMullen U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 4

McMullen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas McMullen, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
John McMullen, aged 19, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
Jane McMullen, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
Mr. Alexander McMullen, aged 3 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Munn" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 20th August 1847 5
Mr. Daniel McMullen, aged 58 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Bridgetown" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 11th September 1847 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McMullen migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McMullen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Samuel Mcmullen, (McMullan), (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in Londonderry, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 11th May 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Catherine McMullen, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "James Fernie" 7
Michael McMullen, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 8
Margaret J. McMullen, aged 21, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Europa" 9
Jane McMullen, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"

McMullen migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McMullen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James Mcmullen, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 10
George McMullen, aged 23, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1865 11
Ellen McMullen, aged 21, a housemaid, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Parsee" in 1873
Sarah McMullen, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Parsee" in 1873
Denis McMullen, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waipa" in 1876
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McMullen (post 1700) +

Paul McMullen (1972-2021), American middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 meters
Richard Cann McMullen (1868-1944), American manufacturer and politician, Governor of Delaware (1937-1941)
Wilbur "Billy" Anthony McMullen Jr. (b. 1980), American NFL football wide receiver
John McMullen (1832-1883), Irish-born, American clergyman of the Catholic Church, 1st Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport (1881-1883)
Kenneth Lee McMullen (b. 1942), American former Major League Baseball third baseman who played from 1962 through 1977
John J. McMullen Ph.D (1918-2005), American naval architect and marine engineer, founder of the engineering firm John J. McMullen & Associates, former owner of the New Jersey Devils and Houston Astros
LaFayette "Fayette" McMullen (1805-1880), American politician, driver, teamster and banker, 2nd Territorial Governor of Washington (1857-1859)
Major-General Clements McMullen (1892-1959), American Commanding General Kelly Air Force Base (1948-1954) 12
Richard Cann McMullen (1868-1944), American manufacturer and politician, Governor of Delaware (1937-1941)
Richard J. McMullen (1918-1978), American businessman, president of the Olean Lumber Company from 1947-1963
... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McMullen family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Colin William Mcmullen (b. 1907), DSC & Bar,, English Lieutenant Commander (G) from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 13

The McMullen Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Miseris succurrere disco
Motto Translation: I learn to succour the distressed.

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 46)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clyde
South Australian Register Friday 17th November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) James Fernie 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/jamesfernie1854.shtml
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
South Australian Register Monday 14th May 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Europa 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/europa1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, May 9) Clements McMullen. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/McMullen/Clements/USA.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html