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Origins Available: |
| Scotland |
On the Scottish west coast, the Yuan family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Ewen. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Eoghainn.
The surname Yuan was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they were first found in the barony of Otter, on the shores of Loch Fyne. The eponymous ancestor of the Clan is reputed to be Eoghain na h-Oitrich, also known as 'Ewen of Otter', who lived at the beginning of the 12th century. Clear records of the Clan were found in 1219, when Gilpatrik Mac Ewen measured the borders of his lands in Kynblathmund.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yuan research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1174 and 1219 are included under the topic Early Yuan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. Yuan has appeared as MacEwen, MacEwan, MacEwing, MacEuen, MacKewin, MacKewan, MacEòghainn (Gaelic) and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Yuan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Yuan is the 9,874th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Yuan were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Archibald MacEuen settled in New York State with his wife Janet and children in 1739; Merran MacEuen settled in New York in 1739 with his wife and daughter.