Surname MacCandless - Meaning and Origin
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MacCandless: What does the surname MacCandless mean?
The last name MacCandless has origins in Scottish and Irish culture and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Macandelas. The literal translation of the name means "son of Candela," with "Candela" itself being an Old Irish name derived from the Latin word "candidus," which means "white" or "bright." It is believed that the original family of MacCandless was descended from the Uí Néill clan of Ulster, tracing their lineage to “Macangail”, or the sons of the champion.
The MacCandless family established themselves in Scotland and England, and spread to Northern Ireland and the American Colonies over time. Today, people with this last name can be found throughout the Western world, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The MacCandless name is often associated with bravery and leadership qualities, ideally in combination with a strong sense of responsibility and loyalty. While some MacCandless families have gone on to become prominent figures in business, government and the sciences, others have made their mark through giving back to the community. It is a testament to the ambition and dedication of the people who have carried the MacCandless name through the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCandless: Where does the name MacCandless come from?
The surname MacCandless is derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacCanndlais, meaning 'son of Canndlais'. This patronymic surname is mostly common in present-day Scotland, in both Argyll and Shetland, as well as in countries like Ireland, Canada, the United States and Australia.
In Scotland, the surname is particularly frequent in Tayside, the western seaboard of Aberdeenshire, Northern Scotland and the Hebrides. This popularity could be partially due to the MacCandless clan chief who in 1587 was one of the most powerful landowners in Scotland.
In the United States, the surname is found mostly in the south-eastern parts of the country; for example, MacCandless families first appeared in Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s. In time, many made their way from the coasts to the Appalachian Mountains, and were believed to have been amongst those who were part of the infamous Trail of Tears in the 19th century when thousands of Cherokees were forcibly removed from their lands.
In present-day Canada, the surname is particularly common in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario, having made its way from Scotland in the early 19th century. The same applies to Australia, moreso where Scottish migration settled, for example in Victoria or parts of Queensland, resulting in a concentration of families in rural areas. Generally, bearers of this surname typically have ties to the British Isles and its counterparts abroad.
Variations of the surname MacCandless
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacCandless are Mac Candless, MacCandles, M'Candless, MacCandelis, McCandless, McCandles, McCandelis, McKindle, and MacKindle.
MacCandless is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Fhionndalais, which is the patronymic form of the personal name, Fhionndal. The prefix “Mac” is an Irish-Gaelic term denoting “son of.” This surname originated and was common in the north of Ireland.
The prevalence of surnames during the Middle Ages is much less than that of today and variations in spelling of some surnames were common depending on the country. It was generally thought that people who had a common ancestor adopted different spellings or variations of their surnames in a bid to distinguish between two groups of similarly named people.
As the MacCandless surname was widespread in Scotland, some of the spellings or variations of the surname could have largely been attributed to the varying phonetic structures of Gaelic, Scottish, and English.
In the late 19th century, emigration to the US and other countries further increased the chances for alternate spellings. After centuries of separation, even close relatives can now be found with different spellings of the same surname.
McCandless is the most commonly found variation of the MacCandless surname and is derived from the Maclandis family, which originally resided in the Province of Ulster. Some of the other variations of the surname include Makandlees, Makandeles, and Mackindle.
Famous people with the name MacCandless
- Nessa MacCandless: Australian fashion blogger and model
- Chris McCandless: American hiker and adventurer
- Robert McCandless: Canadian politician
- Don McCandless: American football player
- Douglas McCandless: American oil exploration engineer
- Ethel McCandless: Scottish women’s rights activist
- Peter McCandless: Canadian actor
- Roderick McCandless: Scottish artist
- Trevor McCandless: Canadian journalist
- Charlotte MacCandless: American philanthropist
- Gerald MacCandless: English actor
- Hal McCandless: American agricultural engineer
- Jean Leacock: Canadian educator
- Kelsey MacCandless: Canadian equestrian
- Kenneth McCandless: American mining researcher
- William McCandless: British physicist