Firstname
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I always wonder if the "Mc..." part is a firstname or a surname. In this case (J. McLean Pinkerton) is McLean a firstname? Sounds rather like a surname.
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His record details shows First name John McLean and his Surname Pinkerton.
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by
David_Underdown
moderator
Possibly his mother's maiden name, or otherwise an older family name passed along the generations
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by
ral104
moderator, scientist
Although in a different case, it could also be a surname, Erik. There's no easy way to tell, unless you can get a better sense from alternative sources like Lives.
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by
cyngast
moderator
Erik, Very cool that you found his biography! Besides being interesting, it shows that McLean was not part of his surname because the article calls him just Pinkerton.
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