Surname Mackquein - Meaning and Origin

Mackquein: What does the surname Mackquein mean?

The surname Mackquein is a variation on the Scottish Mackenzie name, which itself comes from the Gaelic MacCoinnich meaning “Son of Coinneach”. Coinneach is a given name meaning “well-wisher; fair” or “the one who loves” in Old Gaelic.

The Mackenzie (or make quein) name is derived from the common Highland Clan Mackenzie. It is thought that the tribe began as Maccoinnich in the District of Kintail, Scotland in the late Middle Ages. Many Mackenzies are believed to have descended from the 12th century Coinnach clan in the area.

The Mackenzie clan was involved in many clashes with other clans throughout medieval Scotland, most notably with the MacDonalds and the Campbells. In the late 14th century, the Mackenzie’s joined with other clans to overthrow the Robert the Bruce’s rule.

The Mackenzie surname is most common in Scotland and reflects a long and proud history of clan loyalty and bravery. The Mackquein surname likely originated in Scotland and was a variation on Mackenzie due to minor deviations in spelling or pronunciation over time. The surname may also have come to other countries with migrations of Scottish people.

Mackquein: Where does the name Mackquein come from?

The last name Mackquein is most commonly found in the United States, and is especially popular in the state of Montana. The name appears to have originated there, with one of the earliest known records of it appearing in the Montana Census of 1880. In the 2010 Census, the name Mackquein appeared a total of 144 times in the US - with the highest frequency (52) being in Montana.

It is possible that Mackquein is an Americanized version of another surname. The name Mackqueen - pronounced the same - seems more commonly found in the United Kingdom and is derived from MacKune, which is a Gaelic name meaning "Son of the King". This being the case, Mackquein may be a derivation of this name, altered to blend in with the more commonly used surnames in the US during the 19th century.

Given the concentration in Montana, it is likely that the surname Mackquein has been brought to the United States by Scot-Irish immigrants, as many of the early settlers of Montana were of this background. Though the frequency of the surname has increased over the years, it still remains relatively uncommon - particularly outside of Montana - suggesting that the surname has stayed within certain family lines since its introduction in the 19th century.

Variations of the surname Mackquein

Mackquein is an American-English name of unknown origin. It has several variations in spelling, pronunciation, and surname variants. The most common variant is MacQueen. This is also the oldest known spelling, with earliest records dating back to the late 19th century in the United States. Other variations include Mackquin, McKwen, Makwin, Makkween, Mckin, Mackeen, Makkwyn, McKine, Mackwin, Makwikin, and Mackean.

The surname has a few variants, including Macqueen, Macquon, Mackeen, Makkonen, and Makkwoin. These variants can be found mainly in the United States and Canada. The variants Macquon and Makkwoin may have originated from the Scottish name McQuain, which is derived from the Gaelic MacCuain (son of Cuain, meaning “hound”).

In addition, Macqueen also has a few alternative surnames, such as Macquesten, McKinnen, MacKayne, MacKwayne, MacKean, and Makkine. These variants primarily originate in England and Scotland, as well as Ireland. MacKayne likely originates from the Scottish McKyne, a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Kyne. The Scottish McKean is derived from the Gaelic MacCeáin, meaning “son of Ceán”.

Mackquein is an uncommon name and will likely remain so, though its various spellings and variants may be found more commonly throughout North America and England.

Famous people with the name Mackquein

• Kenneth Mackquein- Canadian Member of Parliament
• Lesley Mackquein- British TV presenter and journalist
• Sean Mackquein- Australian Paralympic Athlete
• Angus Mackquein- Scottish Artist
• Campbell Mackquein- British Actor
• Richyon Mackquein- American Musician
• Stewart Mackquein- British Film Director
• Alfred Mackquein- German Architect
• Emma Mackquein- Australian Actress
• Stanley Mackquein- Singaporean Entrepreneur and Founder of numerous business organisations

Other surnames

MacKqueane