Surname MacCall - Meaning and Origin
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MacCall: What does the surname MacCall mean?
MacCall is an Irish and Scottish last name of Gaelic origin, derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Cathail" which means "son of Cathal." The name Cathal is composed of two elements which are “cath” meaning battle and “val” meaning rule. Therefore, MacCall can be interpreted as "son of the battle ruler." Over time, the name has seen multiple variations in its spelling such as McCall, MacCaul, MacCall, MacAul, and others due to its translation between Gaelic and English. It is important to note that there could be other less common meanings or variations associated with the surname depending on the cultural and geographical context.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCall: Where does the name MacCall come from?
The last name MacCall primarily originates from Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Cathail", where "Mac" means son, and "Cathail" translates to powerful in battle. Therefore, MacCall can be understood to mean "son of the powerful in battle". MacCall belongs to several clans in Scotland, including Clan MacAulay from the western Highlands and Clan MacCallum from Argyll. Most family names were derived from common occupations, identifiable physical attributes, and even from personal characteristics and deeds of their individual bearers. Over time, the name also evolved into other variations such as MacCallum or Malcolm.
Today, the last name MacCall is more commonly found in countries that experienced large-scale Scottish migration. These include the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the United Kingdom beyond Scotland. Some families may have changed or altered the spelling upon moving to other English-speaking countries, hence, the name might exist in various forms. However, it is still not a very common surname and according to recent statistics, the majority of the people with the MacCall surname live in the United States.
Variations of the surname MacCall
The surname MacCall is of Scottish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Cathail" meaning "son of Cathal". The name Cathal is a combination of two elements: "cath", meaning battle and "val", meaning rule.
There are many variant spellings of the surname MacCall, reflecting the various ways it has been anglicized over time. Some of these include MacCaul, MacColl, MacCalla, MacCawell, MacHale, McHale, McCale, McCaul, McCall, McColl, MacAll, McAll, and Caulfield.
Additionally, similar surnames like McCallum, McCulloch, and McCullough possess the same "Mac" prefix denoting "son of", but are derived from different Gaelic forenames. For instance, McCallum is the anglicized form of "Mac Coluim" meaning "son of Colum".
MacCall variants also exist in other countries due to migration and anglicization. For example, in the US, MacCall may be found as McCall or McCaul. Moreover, translation of the meaning "son of Cathal" into different languages may result in similar surnames, like the Irish Ó Cathaláin, also anglicized as Callan.
Famous people with the name MacCall
Given the specificity of the last name, it's challenging to find globally recognized figures with the exact surname 'MacCall'. Some variations include 'MacCallum' and 'McCall', with some being quite renowned. For instance, Bruce McCall, a Canadian author and illustrator known for his work in The New Yorker, and Howard McCall, an American Opera singer. Notably, with the surname 'MacCallum', we have Martha MacCallum, a well-known presenter on the Fox News channel, and David MacCallum, a Scottish-American actor, known for his roles in the series "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and "NCIS." However, without any alterations to the spelling, no globally recognized figures come forward with the surname 'MacCall'. It may be that individuals with that specific surname remain chiefly within private life or regional prominence rather than global fame.