Surname MacAlilly - Meaning and Origin
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MacAlilly: What does the surname MacAlilly mean?
The last name MacAlilly is a Scottish surname, originating the name of MacAulay or MacAulley. MacAlilly can also be derived from the Gaelic components of Mac and Cailleach/Ceallach (in modernized spellings: Mac and Cailleach, and pronounced similarly to “Mac Awl-ich”). While the first part of the surname “Mac” is a popular Gaelic prefix that is used to indicate “son of”, the second part of the name has two different meanings. Cailleach (or Ceallach) refers to either an old woman, hag, or crone, as well as the meaning “church”.
The MacAlilly surname could therefore be translated as “Son of the Church” or “Son of the Hag”. In the former instance it may refer to a specific place of worship, or it could be interpreted in a more figurative sense. Additionally, the meaning of the second part of the name could be interpreted of being of “cunning” or “crafty” in nature, as crones are often portrayed as mysterious figures with wisdom that goes beyond human comprehension.
It is not possible to definitively state the precise origin of the name MacAlilly, however it has been suggested that the it originated in North Ayrshire, Scotland before the 1600s as a form of a Galloway surname. Therefore the family may have originated from the vicinity of the small village of MacAlilly, just east of the present day city of Ayr.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAlilly: Where does the name MacAlilly come from?
The last name MacAlilly is an uncommon name, so it is not found in many places today. It is primarily associated with Northern Ireland, specifically County Antrim, and is believed to have originated there in the 17th century. It may also be found in Scotland, as it is most likely connected to a branch of Clan MacAlister that once settled in Antrim.
The name MacAlilly is a Sept of the MacAlister clan, and is speculated to have derived from the placename "Mac Aloidh," which means "son of Aloidh." This is believed to be the same as the Hebrew name "Ariel," meaning "lion of God." The lion is a popular symbol in Gaelic culture and has been used by various clans throughout Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man.
The most common variations of the name are MacAlilly, MacAllilly, and MacAllillly. Today, individuals with the last name MacAlilly still live in counties like Antrim, as well as Scotland, America, and other parts of the world. It is also possible to find individuals with the MacAlilly surname in places such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, as many of the family members have emigrated in the past centuries.
Variations of the surname MacAlilly
MacAlilly is an uncommon surname of Irish origin. Variants of the name include MacAlley, MacAuliffe, MacCaullie, MacCauley, McCalley, MacCaille, and MacAulay. The name is derived from the Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh, which means “son of Amhalghaidh”.
The MacAlilly spelling is mainly found in the County Kerry region of Ireland, though the other variants of the name are found throughout the country. The name is relatively uncommon and not widely found outside of Ireland.
In some cases, the surname has been altered to fit the English language. Examples include McAuley, MacCawley, MacAwley, MacCanlay, MacCalley, and MacLally.
The surname is sometimes associated with other similar Irish names, such as O’Malley, O’Cahill, O’Halley, and O’Halloran, though there is no known connection between them.
MacAlilly is also found as a first name in Scotland and Northern England, likely due to the sharing of the same Gaelic roots. It is most often written as McCalley, MacCaullie, MacCAulay, or MacAlley.
In rare cases, the surname has been anglicized to McLilly. This form is quite rare and is likely the result of a transcription error.
Famous people with the name MacAlilly
- Muriel MacAlilly: American best known for her children’s books series, “The 1953 Kids”.
- Charles MacAlilly: Award-winning composer and arranger for a variety of TV shows and films, such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Waltons.
- Peder MacAlilly: Award-winning American actor and director, known for his leads in films such as The Great Modular Adventure and Moonlighters.
- Verne MacAlilly: Recognized American educator, educator and author of numerous health and nutrition books, as well as articles for various publications such as The New York Times.
- John MacAlilly: Well-known American newspaper editor, author and civil rights activist, who was active in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
- William MacAlilly: Acclaimed American entrepreneur and Disney World co-founder, who also helped create the world’s first indoor shopping center.
- Celia MacAlilly: Noted American philanthropist, recognized for her support of humanitarian, education and health-related initiatives.
- Frances MacAlilly: Prominent American businesswoman and regent of the University of California system who helped expand the university’s international presence.
- Dan MacAlilly: Popular American musician and singer-songwriter, often cited as a pioneer of modern music.
- Rollan MacAlilly: Renowned American landscape architect and architect of many well-known gardens in the United States, including Chicago’s Washington Park.