McCallany

McCallany is a surname of Irish and Scottish origin. It is typically considered a patronymic form of the Gaelic *Mac Cailín*, meaning “son of the little girl,” or of *Mac Aoibheann*, meaning “son of the fiery one.” The name was brought to England and North America during the late 18th and 19th centuries, appearing most frequently in the Ulster region of Ireland and in counties of Scotland such as Argyll and Perthshire. In the United States the surname appears in census records from the 1870s onward, particularly in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, where many Irish immigrants were settled.

The name is sometimes conflated with similarly spelled surnames such as McCall, McCalla, or McCalman, though genealogical studies show distinct lineages. In the 20th century, bearers of the name have achieved recognition in a variety of fields. Notable individuals include American filmmaker James McCallany, Norwegian-born illustrator Minna McCallany, and Scottish writer or poet William McCallany. In sports, Scottish footballer Andrew McCallany played for St. Mirren and Dundee United during the 1990s. In academia, Dr. Ada McCallany is a respected environmental scientist at the University of Manchester.

A small community named McCallany exists in the Cape Breton region of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. The place was named after early Scottish settlers bearing the surname and is known for its fishing heritage and traditional Gaelic music. The McCallany surname continues to be used worldwide, with contemporary bearers living in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.