This is an anglicized form of the Olde Gaelic (Scots and Irish) Mac Miadhachain. The Gaelic prefix 'mac' means 'son of', plus the personal name Miadhachan, composed of 'Miadhaeh', honourable and the diminutive suffix 'a(i)n'. William McMeekan is recorded as bieng a christening witness at Timplepatrick, Co. Antrim, on March 20th 1815, whilst James McMeekan is recorded at Donaghadee, County Down on August 8th 1845, when he married Eliza Jane Irwin. In the 'modern' idiom the name has no less than fifteen spelling variations including MacMeekin(g), MacMeeken, MacMechan, MacMickan, MacMychem etc.. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillecrist Mak Makin or M'Maykin, charter witness, which was dated circa 1185 - 'The Book of St. Mary of Melrose', Scotland, during the reign of King William, known as the Lion of Scotland, 1165 - 1214. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.