Surname Macdonleavy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Macdonleavy: What does the surname Macdonleavy mean?
The last name MacDonleavy is believed to originate from the Mac Duinnshléibhe sept, an Irish clan present in County Mayo, Ireland that migrated to Wales in the 12th century. The literal translation of the name is 'The son of Donnshléibhe', 'Donnshléibhe' being the anglicised form of the Irish name 'Donn Sleibhe'.
There are two theories surrounding the meaning of 'Donnshléibhe', both of which relate to the Irish God of the Sea, Manannán mac Lir. One interpretation suggests that the name may be compounded from the forename Donn, meaning 'Lord', and the word sleibhe meaning 'mountain', suggesting a high-ranking 'Lord of the Mountain'. The second theory is that MacDonleavy has its root in the words donn and saile, meaning Lord and 'destruction' respectively. This interpretation suggests that the name may mean 'Lord of Destruction'.
Regardless of the origin, the name MacDonleavy has been present in Irish and Welsh culture for centuries and has been used as a surname in Britain since at least the 14th or 15th century. The name is still present today, with thousands of people bearing MacDonleavy as their last name across the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisMacdonleavy: Where does the name Macdonleavy come from?
The last name Macdonleavy is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Australia. It is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Dhonnghaile, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill meaning "Son of Donald".
In Ireland, the Macdonleavy name is most predominantly found in Counties Cavan and Monaghan, though it is also found throughout the rest of the country. Most Macdonleavys from Ireland can trace their roots to a family that lived in the area of Mullaghalough in County Cavan in the early 1500s. The name has been passed down for centuries through the same family and continues to remain popular to this day.
In Scotland, records of the Macdonleavy surname first appear in the late 1700s. Many of these families were likely descended from Irish immigrants, though some may have also originated from the Scottish Highlands. Today, the name continues to be found throughout Scotland, particularly in cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh.
In Australia, the name has been present since the mid-1800s when thousands of Irish immigrants fled the country during the Great Famine. Today, the name Macdonleavy is found across the country, from Sydney and Melbourne in the south to Brisbane and Cairns in the north.
All in all, the Macdonleavy last name is still very prevalent today, with families bearing the name found in many English-speaking countries with significant Irish populations.
Variations of the surname Macdonleavy
Macdonleavy is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Duinnshléibhe, which roughly translates to "son of the Duinn". It is an older variant of the surname Donleavy. This surname is mainly found in County Mayo and surrounding counties in Ireland. There are several variations of Macdonleavy including MacDunleavy, MacDunlevy, MacDonlevy, MacDonleavy, MacDonaldleavy, Donleavy, Doyleavy and Donlevy. Although the spelling has changed slightly over the years, the pronunciation of the family name has remained the same. Some of the variants of Macdonleavy that have been found in records are MacDonlevy, MacDonleavy, MacDonaldleavy, MacDunlevy, MacDunleavy, Donleavy, and Dounleavy. All of the variants of the Macdonleavy surname are descended from the same Irish Gaelic lineage.
Macdonleavy is an anglicized version of the old Gaelic form of the name which literally translates as "son of the Duinn". In County Mayo, some of the variants of Macdonleavy are found more often than the original version. For example, Donleavy is a much more common variant of the original. Similarly, Doyleavy, Donlevy, and Dounleavy are found in certain places more than the original Macdonleavy.
The Macdonleavy surname is predominantly found on the West Coast of Ireland, especially in County Mayo. In recent generations, the listed variants of the Macdonleavy surname have spread further afield, with many families opting to Anglicise the name to Dunlevy or simply use the more common Donleavy spelling. The various variants of Macdonleavy are likely to have been formed due to varying levels of English literacy among the Gaelic speakers of the time. Ultimately, all variations of Macdonleavy derive from the same Gaelic root.
Famous people with the name Macdonleavy
- J. Todd MacDonnell: Investment banker and former CEO of Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management Americas.
- Billy MacDonnell: Canadian journalist and comedy writer.
- Mark MacDonnell: British diplomat and Ambassador of the United Kingdom to various countries, notably Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Gavin MacDonnell: Australian advertising executive and entrepreneur.
- Patrick MacDonnell: 19th-century American playwright and actor.
- John MacDonnell: Member of Parliament of Canada for Californian Newfoundland.
- J.D. MacDonnell: Canadian writer, producer and director.
- Conor MacDonnell: Irish actor who had roles in films such as "Hunger," "The Guard" and "Calvary."
- Rob MacDonnell: television actor who had roles in "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Practice."
- Morgan MacDonnell: Irish actor known for his roles in shows such as "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn" and "24."