Surname MacCalvey - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacCalvey: What does the surname MacCalvey mean?
The last name MacCalvey means “son of Alvey”, indicating that the person bearing the name comes from a family with strong ties to Ireland. The original form of the name is believed to be MacAlvaigh, which is a combination of the Irish Gaelic words “mac” meaning “son” and “Albhaigh” or “Alvey” which was the name of a legendary Irish chieftain.
The MacCalveys are believed to be descended from the O Sullivan Mór clan which was a prominent Irish ruling family in the late Middle Ages and early modern era. According to one theory, MacCalveys may have also descended from families whose ancestors accompanied Thomas FitzGerald, the 8th Earl of Kildare on his military campaigns to invade the coasts of Ireland in the mid-16th century.
Oral and written genealogical records from Munster attest to the presence of these families in Kerry and Cork during the 1700s, and by the mid-1800s, records show that most MacCalveys had moved from Ireland to Scotland, and later North America, Western Europe, and Australia as a result of the Great Famine of 1840s and other waves of diaspora.
Today, MacCalveys are found in communities all around the world, with some bearing the name closely related to their Irish heritage and many more not having any idea of its origins. Ultimately, the MacCalvey name is a testament to the long and storied history of families from a small island whose descendants have gone on to make a lasting impact around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCalvey: Where does the name MacCalvey come from?
The surname MacCalvey is a variant of the Irish Mac Cailleachain, which means "son of the devotee of St. Blaise". It is predominantly found in Northern Ireland, particularly in counties Down and Antrim. It is also found in Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States.
In Northern Ireland, the number of people with the MacCalvey surname is extremely small, with only 56 households having the name in the 2011 census. This is likely due to the fact that the surname has been in use since the 16th century in the north of Ireland.
The United States and Canada are home to the largest populations of MacCalveys in the world. According to the United States census of 2020, there were more than 1,000 people with the MacCalvey surname in the United States. Of those, about 600 live in California, with the surname also being found in the states of Oregon, Washington, and New York.
In Canada, the MacCalvey surname is also relatively common, with roughly 200 households having the name in the 2016 census. The highest concentrations of MacCalveys in Canada are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. It is also found in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec.
Overall, the MacCalvey surname is not overly common and is mostly found in countries of British heritage, with the largest populations in Northern Ireland, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname MacCalvey
MacCalvey is an anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Amhalghaidh which is derived from the Irish Gaelic Amhalghaidh, meaning “son of Amhalghaidh”. The modern spellings and variants of this name are MacCalvey, MacCalvie, MacCawley, MacColvie, MacCauley, MacGawley, and MacGouley.
The surname is a sept of the Clan Donald, originating in the western region of Scotland and Ireland, in particular, Argyll and Kilkenny. The family is ancient, tracing its roots back to Phiarais MacAmhalghaidh, whose death is recorded in a manuscript of the year 1392.
In addition to the spellings listed above, MacAmhalghaidh is sometimes spelled as MacAmhlaigh, MacAnhlaigh or MacAwley. The MacAmhlaigh spelling is generally found in Irish records, while the MacCaawley variant is primarily found in Scottish records.
The Gaelic spelling of MacAmhalghaidh is sometimes used today in Scotland and Ireland, typically in written form, but less so in spoken conversation.
Many surnames related to MacCalvey were adopted in the early 19th century by those looking to distance themselves from the original spelling of MacAmhalghaidh, as well as to sound more “English” or “Scottish”. This includes names such as MacCowell, McCartey, and MacDowall.
Famous people with the name MacCalvey
- Siobhán MacCalvey: Irish fiction writer.
- Alison MacCalvey: American actress.
- Fiona MacCalvey: Scottish broadcaster and journalist.
- Ryan MacCalvey: American voice actor.
- Ian MacCalvey: Gaelic folk singer.
- Carey MacCalvey: American illustrator and animator.
- Liam MacCalvey: Scottish artist.
- Gerana MacCalvey: Irish actress and director.
- Donal MacCalvey: Irish fiddle player.
- Kevan MacCalvey: Canadian singer and songwriter.