McClintock is a name of Gaelic-Scottish roots that became established in the north of Ireland.
Where does the McClintock name come from?
McClintock is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhionntóg, generally understood as “son of the servant or devotee of Saint Fintán” — built with giolla (servant or follower) and the saint’s name. It originated in the Scottish Highlands before being carried to Ireland.
McClintock in Ireland
The name came to the north of Ireland through Scottish settlement and became established in Ulster, particularly in counties Donegal, Tyrone and Louth, where McClintock families held land. It is well remembered through Sir Francis Leopold McClintock, the Arctic explorer of the nineteenth century. As a settled name, McClintock is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- McClintock comes from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Fhionntóg.
- It refers to a devotee of Saint Fintán.
- The name originated in the Scottish Highlands.
- It settled in Donegal, Tyrone and Louth.
- Sir Francis McClintock was a famous Arctic explorer.
Related Irish family names
You may also like McCabe, McArdle, and Barry.
Frequently asked questions
Is McClintock an Irish surname?
McClintock is of Gaelic-Scottish origin and became a settled name in Ulster, especially in Donegal, Tyrone and Louth.
What does McClintock mean?
It comes from Mac Giolla Fhionntóg, “son of the devotee of Saint Fintán.”
Is there a McClintock family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions.