Surname MacAnilly - Meaning and Origin
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MacAnilly: What does the surname MacAnilly mean?
The last name MacAnilly is of Scottish heritage. The name derives from the Old Gaelic Mac an Oile. This translates to "son of the well", and refers to an ancient clan whose origin story is said to have come from a well on a small isle near Inverness.
The first recorded spelling of the name was in the 12th century AD and it is believed to have originated with the MacAnamy clan. The clan resided in a region of Scotland now known as Inverness-shire. The MacAnilly surname is associated with a number of prominent Scottish clans, including the Clan MacDonnell, Clan MacFarlane, and Clan MacDougall.
Aside from its ancient heritage, the MacAnilly name is also associated with being a fine purveyor of Scottish whisky, as it was originally the whisky trade that the MacAnilly family members had first become known for. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was common for family members to work as a labourer and distiller in one of Scotland’s many whisky distilleries.
The MacAnilly family is renowned for its fierce loyalty and love of tradition, and the name is still carried by modern members of the family today. It is said that the Gaelic members of the family have an indomitable spirit that allows them to rise to any challenge they face. Their passion for whisky distilling, loyalty to their family, and dedication to Scotland’s traditions make the MacAnilly name a true symbol of Scotland and its culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAnilly: Where does the name MacAnilly come from?
The last name Macanilly is most commonly associated with Ireland, specifically Northern Ireland, but it can also be found in Scotland and France in small concentrations as well. It is likely derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhailigh, which translates to “son of the stream.” In modern times, the MacAnilly surname is found predominantly in Northern Irish counties such as County Antrim, Tyrone and Derry/Londonderry. It is also prevalent across the water in Scotland, particularly in the East Lothian and North Lanarkshire regions. But outside of the British Isles, MacAnilly is also common in some parts of France, primarily in the regions of Burgundy and Normandy.
The share of the MacAnilly name is quite small, making up less than 0.001 percent of the population in any given country, but its presence in the British Isles and in France is considerable. Today, the name may refer to an ancestor who was of noble birth or who followed a trade of some kind that was practiced for generations. It’s also a great reminder of the significant influence of the Celtic peoples on the culture of the British Isles and France.
Variations of the surname MacAnilly
The most common variants, spellings and surnames of MacAnilly are MacAnila, MacAnile, MacAnelli and MacAnille. In Scotland, MacAnilly was a surname that began to be used when the country was neither a feudalized kingdom nor a unified nation.
The earliest variant spellings of MacAnilly date back to the fifteenth century in the Northern Highlands. Often in old records it can be seen as M'Anill or M'Anille, though this has since developed into contemporary spellings.
In Ireland, the MacAnilly surname is somewhat rare, with records mainly found amongst the population of Eastern and Southern Down, in what is now Northern Ireland, with records dating back as far as the late sixteenth century. This suggests a likely origin in Scotland for the surname. It is typically found spelt as MacAnila, MacAnile or MacAnille, or as variants of those spellings.
In England, the most commonly found variant of the MacAnilly surname is MacAnelli, which was adopted in the eighteenth century and likely derives from broader migration of Scots. This is the spelling typically found in records of the mid-1800s onwards.
In the United States, the vast majority of MacAnilly surnames are descended from Irish immigrants of the nineteenth century. The variants and spellings used typically reflect Irish pronunciations of the surname, such as MacAnella, MacAnile, MacAnilla, and MacNally.
In conclusion, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacAnilly are MacAnila, MacAnile, MacAnelli, MacAnille, MacAnella, MacAnilla and MacNally. These variants reflect the location of origin of the name, with different pronunciations and spellings arising in different countries in response to migration and the passage of time.
Famous people with the name MacAnilly
- Andrew MacAnilly: actor, known for playing in the movie The Magicians.
- Joe MacAnilly: British musician, singer, and songwriter.
- Robert MacAnilly: former Scottish footballer, capped four times by Scotland.
- afangrace MacAnilly: British entrepreneur, and co-founder of African Labor Complexity.
- Alison MacAnilly: British business executive and entrepreneur.
- Jim MacAnilly: American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears.
- Dean MacAnilly: Bermuda football player who competed in the 1999 and 2003 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
- Tom MacAnilly: British actor who worked in the film, television, and theatre industries.
- Ron MacAnilly: Grammy Award-winning record producer, mainly known for playing and producing music in the country music genre.
- Patrick MacAnilly: retired professional Scottish footballer and current football scout.