Surname MacAnaul - Meaning and Origin
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MacAnaul: What does the surname MacAnaul mean?
The origin of the last name MacAnaul is rooted in Irish and Gaelic history, but there are a few theories regarding its actual meaning. One popular belief is that the name is derived from the Irish word "macanmhaoile", meaning "son of the noble one" - most likely referring to a chieftain or leader of a clan. Others speculate that MacAnaul is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "anmhaol" meaning "estimable".
Historically, the MacAnaul surname is closely associated with County Donegal, particularly in the area around Kilcar. It is believed that the original family was part of the O'Donnelly clan, who were a powerful force in the area. The MacAnauls were thought to be an offshoot of the O'Donnelly clan and likely took their name from some estate or other in the area.
MacAnaul is also a very old surname, with records of the name going back several centuries. People with the surname MacAnaul have proudly represented their Irish heritage in many different countries around the world, in many different occupations and societies.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAnaul: Where does the name MacAnaul come from?
The last name MacAnaul is most commonly found in the United States in New England, Pennsylvania, and the Midwest. According to the U.S. Census in 2020, MacAnaul is the 6,464th most popular last name in the United States. It is primarily concentrated in the states of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. MacAnaul is also well-represented in neighboring states, particularly Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The surname derives from the Gaelic "Mac An Mhail," meaning"son of the devotee." It was first found in western Ulster, Ireland in the late 13th century in the barony of Tirawley, County Mayo. Like many other Gaelic surnames, the English form of MacAnaul came into general use during the Middle Ages and has been used interchangeably with the more traditional Gaelic form since then.
The earliest recorded ancestor of the Scottish-Irish MacAnauls was Donald MacAn Mhail (MacAnaul) who is believed to have been born in the early 17th century in County Mayo. By the late 1700’s the family was firmly rooted in the in the United States, through a combination of immigration from Ireland and later, from Scotland.
The family spread quickly and is now firmly-established all across the United States. The 2020 U.S. Census indicates that MacAnauls are particularly concentrated the states of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and can also be found in most other parts of the country.
Variations of the surname MacAnaul
The surname MacAnaul has a variety of possible spellings or variants, depending on the origin culture and the original dialect of the name's bearer. Variants of the surname MacAnaul may include McCanel, McAnnall, McCannel, McAnnal, MacAnnal, MacAnnell, MacEnnal, MacConnel, and McCanall. In Ireland, there are also a few ur-MacAnaul families whose roots stretch back to the Province of Ulster. A variation of the MacAnaul surname name can also be found in Scotland as MacInulty.
Additionally, because MacAnaul is an anglicized form of an inherently Irish surname spelling, many of the original forms of the name have become extinct. However, with the rise of genetic testing, many of these lost forms have been rediscovered in recent decades. In English-speaking countries, some of the confirmed versions of the surname include MacAnalty, MacInally, and MacAnal.
People with this surname may also bear the many other spellings and phonetic variants of the original name. These include McCann, MacAnally, MacAnnulty, MacAnulty, MacConnoll, MacGinnitty, MacNally, MacEnulty, MacKinlay, McAneney, McAnulty, and MacAulay. Moreover, in some cases, the spelling may have been corrupted over time, resulting in such anglicized versions as McNaule and Mnall.
The more diminutive versions of MacAnaul are also documented, including McInaulty, Annall, and Anault. Importantly, the hyphenated form of the name—Mac-Anaul—regularly appears in the records, although such a spelling does not hold an entry in the official list of surnames from the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
Overall, the surname MacAnaul has many variants and spellings, and its variants bear witness to a distinct Irish heritage. People with this surname may have different spelling variations, but can all trace their roots to the same origin.
Famous people with the name MacAnaul
- Alex MacAnaul: American actor and former MTV VJ from the 90s
- Carlin MacAnaul: Irish professional soccer player
- Leighton MacAnaul: American actor, screenwriter, and film director
- Jess MacAnaul: Canadian actress, writer, and comedian
- Graham MacAnaul: British musician and composer
- Michael MacAnaul: American Olympic bobsledder
- Mary MacAnaul: Australian actress and television presenter
- Evan MacAnaul: American jazz guitarist
- Craig MacAnaul: American urban planner
- Chris MacAnaul: American physicist and aerospace engineer