General McGlynn History
The McGlynn surname is Irish in origin the original Gaelic form of McGlynn is Mag Fhloinn. It is pronounced “Maglin” as the “Fh” is silent due to how Gaelic is spoken.The name changed to its current form by English influence in Ireland known as anglicanization.The meaning of “Mag” in the original Gaelic means “son of” and “Fhloinn” which is derived from the Gaelic word “Flann or Flinn” meaning “ruddy”. The name likely originated independently in several parts of Ireland. This is because Flann was a common forename in the medieval era. Descendents with fathers named Flann or Flinn could have taken the surname Mag Fhloinn.

To today’s modern reader McGlenn, McGlinn, McGlynn and Glynn could not be related because they are spelled differently. Our ancestors did not have as ridged of a view regarding their surname. Spelling of a surname could changefor numerous reasons. The “Mc” could be dropped to “Glenn” to disassociate from its Gaelic origin. Often that is what happened in Northern Ireland and Scotland because of discrimination against Irish Catholics. Another reason for surname variation is surnames where often recorded by a clerk who would write a surname based on how they thought is should be written.