McQueen (surname)

McQueen, Mcqueen, and MacQueen, Macqueen are English-language surnames derived from Scottish Gaelic. There have been several differing etymologies given for the surnames; as well as several differing ways to represent the surname in modern Scottish Gaelic. The surnames are not among the most common surnames in the United Kingdom, Australia, nor the United States.

There have been several differing etymologies given for the surname. One view is that it is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic MacShuibhne, which means "son of Suibhne". The Gaelic name Suibhne is a byname, which means "pleasant". This Gaelic name was also used as a Gaelic equivalent of the Old Norse byname Sveinn, which means "boy". Another view is that the Anglicised surname is derived from the Gaelic MacCuinn, meaning "son of Conn". The Gaelic personal name Conn is composed of an Old Celtic element meaning "chief". Another suggested origin of the Anglicised surname is from the Gaelic MacCuithein.

A similarly spelt surname, Macquien, is considered to be often confused with, and wrongly represented by Macqueen. This name is considered to be derived from the Gaelic personal name Aoidhean which means "little Aodh". The Gaelic personal name Aodh is a modern form of Áed, which means "fire".Macquien can be presented in Scottish Gaelic as MacAoidhein; and in the north of Scotland as MacCuithein.

The surname has undergone changes over the years. Mackquean (1502); M'Queyn (1543); M'Queen (1609).

The Anglicised surnames can be represented in Scottish Gaelic several different ways. MacCuinn is the form for the surname of Galloway. MacCuithein is the form for the surname in the north of Scotland; and MacShuibhne is the form in the south of Scotland.

Similar surnames are (from Ian); McQuinn (from Conn); , McSween (from Suibhne, or possibly Sveinn); , (from Suibhne);Macquien (from Aoidhean);Queen (a reduced form of the surname McQueen, also from Quena).

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