McMillan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Scotland’s western coastal mountains and the desolate Hebrides spawned the line of the McMillan family. The name McMillan was originally 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 McMillan family

The surname McMillan 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 McMillan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMillan research.

McMillan Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. McMillan has been spelled MacMillan, MacMullan, MacMullen, McMullen, McMullin, McMullan, McMillan, MacMullin and many more.

Early Notables of the McMillan family (pre 1700)

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.

McMillan World Ranking

In the United States, the name McMillan is the 757^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name McMillan is ranked the 442^ndmost popular surname with an estimated 10,697 people with that name. [3] And in Australia, the name McMillan is the 345^th popular surname with an estimated 10,466 people with that name. [4] New Zealand ranks McMillan as 144^th with 3,452 people. [5] The United Kingdom ranks McMillan as 620^th with 10,626 people. [6]

 Migration of the McMillan family to Ireland

Some of the McMillan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 McMillan migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name McMillan were among those contributors: 

McMillan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• John McMillan was banished from the west country of England and arrived in New Englandin 1685
• Duncan McMillan, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 [7]

McMillan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Henry McMillan, who arrived in Maryland in 1714 [7]
• Malcolm McMillan, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 [7]
• Margaret McMillan, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1774 [7]
• Archibald McMillan, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 [7]
• Iver McMillan, aged 26, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 [7]

McMillan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Samuel McMillan, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1805 [7]
• Sarah McMillan, who landed in America in 1805 [7]
• David McMillan, who landed in America in 1808 [7]
• Hector McMillan, who landed in America in 1810 [7]
• Alin McMillan, aged 34, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 [7]

 McMillan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

McMillan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Lieut. McMillan U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in DeLancey’s 1st Battalion [8]
• Private. Donald McMillan U.E., (McMullin) (b. 1752) born in Inverness, Scotland from New York, USA who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 married to Catherine having 9 children, he died in 1816 [8]
• Mr. Dougald McMillan U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [8]
• Mrs. Isabella McMillan U.E. who settled in Marlborough [Ottawa], Ontario c. 1784 [8]
• Mr. James McMillan U.E. who settled in St. Stephen, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 [8]

McMillan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Angus McMillan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Donald McMillan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Isobel McMillan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Jean McMillan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
• Marian McMillan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801

 McMillan migration to Australia+

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

McMillan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James McMillan, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Asiatic” on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [9]
• Michael McMillan, Scottish convict from Edinburgh, who was transported aboard the “Agamemnon” on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia [10]
• John McMillan, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the “Asia” on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia [11]
• Mr. Aneas McMillan, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the “Florentia” on 14th August 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
• Agnes McMillan, Scottish convict from Ayr, who was transported aboard the “Amphitrite” on August 21, 1833, settling in New South Wales, Australia [13]

 McMillan 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: 

McMillan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Finlay McMillan, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Jane Gifford” in 1842 [14]
• Ann McMillan, aged 19, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Jane Gifford” in 1842 [14]
• Elizabeth McMillan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “New Era” in 1855
• Mr. Donald McMillan, Canadian settler travelling from Nova Scotia with 4 family members aboard the ship “Gertrude” arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd December 1856 [15]
• Mr. Ebenezer McMillan, Canadian settler travelling from St. Ann’s, Nova Scotia, Canada aboard the ship “Gertrude” arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 22nd December 1856 [15]

Contemporary Notables of the name McMillan (post 1700) +

• Stephen Albert McMillan (1941-2022), American politician from Mobile, Alabama, Member of the Alabama House of Representatives (1980-2022), the longest-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives at the time of his death
• Cedric McMillan (1977-2022), American IFBB professional bodybuilder and United States Army Instructor, winner of the 2017 Arnold Classic
• Gloria McMillan (1933-2022), American actress who worked extensively in radio, best known for her television role as Harriet Conklin on the 1950s sitcom Our Miss Brooks
• William George “Will” McMillan (1944-2015), American actor, producer, and director, known for his work on The Crazies (1973), Salvador (1986) and The Enforcer (1976)
• William L. McMillan (1936-1984), American physicist
• William Willard McMillan (1929-2000), American seven-time gold and eight-time silver medalist sports shooter
• William McMillan (1777-1832), American academic, 4th President of Jefferson College (1817-1822), President of Franklin College (1825-1832)
• William McMillan (1764-1804), American Delegate to the United States Congress from the Northwest Territory (1800-1801)
• Thomas Law “Tommy” McMillan (1888-1966), American Major League Baseball outfielder and shortstop who played from 1908 through 1912
• David McMillan (1981-2013), American NFL and CFL football defensive end.

The McMillan 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.