McClain is an Irish surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Leathain,' meaning 'son of Leathan.' It was originally given to a red-haired person or someone with a sunburned complexion, as 'leathan' translates to 'red' in Gaelic. The name has been present in Ireland since at least the 14th century and is most commonly found in Ulster, particularly County Antrim. Over time, McClain has also become used as a given name, especially in North America.
"McClain saw a significant rise in popularity post-1990, peaking at 21 births in 2022."