McClelland

McClelland is a surname with Gaelic origins that is most commonly found in the British Isles and in countries with Gaelic or Scottish heritage, such as Scotland, Ireland, and extended communities in North America. Like other Mac- or Mc- surnames, it originated as a patronymic form, typically conveying “son of” a given name of Gaelic origin. The exact underlying given name has varied over time, and the spelling McClelland reflects a common Anglicization pattern used in modern records.

In addition to its use as a family name, McClelland appears as a placename in various regions, often reflecting historical settlement by families bearing the surname. As a toponym, it may be encountered in local geography, cemeteries, or historical documents associated with communities that carried the name.

Notable individuals with the surname include the American psychologist David C. McClelland, who contributed to the study of achievement motivation and related theories in personality and social psychology. There are other people with the name across fields such as politics, business, science, and the arts, reflecting the name’s broad geographic and cultural distribution.

See also variations of the name, including McClellan, MacClelland, or Clelland, which may refer to related families or places. The spelling and use of the name can vary by region and over time, but the core patronymic origin remains a common thread across its occurrences.