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I've been reading a book trilogy about characters who lived in 18th century Scotland. One of the main characters is named Leana (leh-AH-na). The book states her name means "serving Ian." I've never heard that. This site says nothing about Leana so I searched Google and typed in Leana and Scotland. What I found were examples of females named Leana who lived in or were related to Scotland in some way but that still doesn't answer how on earth Leana is related to Ian.
Does anyone know?
TIA
Does anyone know?
TIA
1
Replies
Is there an Ian in the book that this woman could be said to be "serving"? Perhaps the author isn't being literal but is making a reference to the character Leana's relationship with the character Ian.
Actually this could make some sort of sense if Leana is actually a shortened form of her full name. Many Gaelic surnames starting with Gill- go back to forms that meant "servant of" some saint or religious figure. Gilchrist was "servant of Christ" and Gilfillan "servant of St. Faolan", for example. I have sometimes seen Gillian (with a hard "g" sound) explained as a Scottish male name meaning "servant of St. John". So perhaps the author is implying that the character Leana's full name is something like Gilleana or Gilliana.
Actually this could make some sort of sense if Leana is actually a shortened form of her full name. Many Gaelic surnames starting with Gill- go back to forms that meant "servant of" some saint or religious figure. Gilchrist was "servant of Christ" and Gilfillan "servant of St. Faolan", for example. I have sometimes seen Gillian (with a hard "g" sound) explained as a Scottish male name meaning "servant of St. John". So perhaps the author is implying that the character Leana's full name is something like Gilleana or Gilliana.
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Sorry meant to be under first post
The surname McLean is a variant of McLain meaning son of the servent of John
McLean
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics, *Edit This Entry*
Variant of McLain.
McLain
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics, *Edit This Entry*
From Gaelic Mac Gille Eáin meaning "son of the servant of John
Lean is another form of this surname
http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/lean-family-crest.htm
All these sites mention Leana as meaning serves John, and Ian = John
http://www.daire.org/names/celtscotfem.html
http://www.cat-dog-names.com/scottish-dog-names.html
http://www.yachtsee.com/boatname/scottish.php
http://www.all-babynames.com/baby-names-meaning-l1.html
http://www.20000-names.com/female_scottish_names.htm
http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/pg6/baby-names-l.asp
http://www.babiesonline.com/babynames/index.asp?name=John
http://www.pickbabynames.com/_alphabeth/L-7.html
http://www.thebabycorner.com/babynames/l/11/
Of corse not many sites are trustworthy when it comes to true meanings and it may be possible that the Author just took as true something he read
The surname McLean is a variant of McLain meaning son of the servent of John
McLean
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics, *Edit This Entry*
Variant of McLain.
McLain
Usage: Scottish, Irish
Extra: Statistics, *Edit This Entry*
From Gaelic Mac Gille Eáin meaning "son of the servant of John
Lean is another form of this surname
http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/lean-family-crest.htm
All these sites mention Leana as meaning serves John, and Ian = John
http://www.daire.org/names/celtscotfem.html
http://www.cat-dog-names.com/scottish-dog-names.html
http://www.yachtsee.com/boatname/scottish.php
http://www.all-babynames.com/baby-names-meaning-l1.html
http://www.20000-names.com/female_scottish_names.htm
http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/pg6/baby-names-l.asp
http://www.babiesonline.com/babynames/index.asp?name=John
http://www.pickbabynames.com/_alphabeth/L-7.html
http://www.thebabycorner.com/babynames/l/11/
Of corse not many sites are trustworthy when it comes to true meanings and it may be possible that the Author just took as true something he read
This message was edited 6/11/2006, 4:36 PM
1
No, this character has a son named Ian. We find later that Leana means "serving Ian" when two of the other characters in the story are discussing the meaning of her name and she seems surprised that her name and her son's name are related. And as far as we know, her name is simply Leana. I suppose at one point Gilleana could have been shortened to Leana. I can see that.
This message was edited 6/9/2006, 10:18 PM
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