The Scottish surname McClain, also found in Ireland, is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Gille Eathain, a patronymic from a personal name meaning “servant of (Saint) John.” The McClain’s were chieftains in several islands of the Inner Hebrides. Early examples of the surname recording include John and Neil, the sons of Gilhon, who were mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1326. Further early recordings include: Nigel M'Gillon, the custodian of the castle of Scragburgh in 1329, and Walter Malynne, the abbot of Glenluce, from 1517 to 1545. The name is first recorded in the New World in 1820 when William McClain arrived in Pennsylvania from Scotland. Today there are approximately 45,000 bearers of the name McClain living in the US.

MCCLAIN FAMILY CREST SIGNET RING