Surname MacEleavy - Meaning and Origin
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MacEleavy: What does the surname MacEleavy mean?
The surname MacEleavy is believed to have originated from the Irish (Gaelic) language, derived from the phrase "mac Giolla Eathaidh," which is translated to "son of the follower of St. Aidius". This suggests that the original bearer of the surname was the descendant of an Irish family with religious ties to Saint Aidius, a 6th century missionary from Scotland.
The first known record of the MacEleavy surname in Ireland dates back to 1298, when it was found in an official document belonging to the "Maxwell Clan of Antrim". The surname MacEleavy was then found in the Leitrim and Donegal area of Ireland in the 1600s, and was later found throughout other counties, such as Cork, Waterford, Dublin, and Tyrone.
The meaning of the surname has been interpreted as meaning either ‘The son of the servant of Aodh’ or ‘the son of the faithful disciple’. Both interpretations suggest that the MacEleavy family was once followers of a religious leader. The surname has also been interpreted to refer to ‘a son of a free man’.
Generally, MacEleavy is a surname found predominantly in Ireland, among the Irish diaspora, and more recently in the United States and Canada. It’s a name that has a sense of loyalty, faith and devotion associated with it, with many of the MacEleavy families having a rich and long heritage in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacEleavy: Where does the name MacEleavy come from?
The last name MacEleavy can be found across Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and Australia. It is one of the 4,000 most common surnames in Ireland, while in the United States it is the 6,899th most common last name.
In Ireland, the MacEleavy surname is most popular in counties Mayo and Donegal, and has been present for centuries, with references to the name appearing in the annals of 16th century Ulster. The etymology of the surname is not clear, with some suggesting it is derived from Mac Giolla Éadaigh (meaning son of the follower of Éadaigh) or Mac Giolla Iosa (meaning son of the follower of Jesus).
In the United States, the MacEleavy surname arrived in the 1800s, most likely brought over by Irish immigrants of the period. Since then, the name has spread to almost all states, with states in the Northeastern region - such as New York and New Jersey - having the highest concentration, likely due to the large number of Irish Americans in that region.
In Canada, the MacEleavy surname is also most common in the eastern provinces, likely due to the large number of Irish immigrants who made their way across the Atlantic in the 19th century.
Finally, in Australia, the MacEleavy surname has a long, established history. It was brought to that vast continent by convicts, of whom many had Irish and Scottish ancestry. It is present mostly in the Northern Territory, Victoria, and the Australian Capital territory.
Variations of the surname MacEleavy
The commonly accepted variants and spellings of the surname MacEleavy are MacAleavy, MacElevy, MacElee, MacElee, MacEley, MacEly, MacEveny, MacLeavy, and MacLovy.
The surname MacEleavy originated from a Gaelic patronymic name. A patronymic name is a surname derived from the name of a father or other ancestor. In the case of MacEleavy, it is derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac Gilla Fhaidh, meaning "son of the servant of God".
In some cases, the surname MacEleavy has been changed from the original Gaelic form to an anglicized version of the name. Variants of the surname MacEleavy often start with "Mc" or "Mac" and are followed by the Anglicized version of the Gaelic patronymic, such as MacEleavy or MacLeavy.
The surname MacEleavy is also sometimes spelled with two l's instead of one, such as MacElee, MacEley, or MacEly. These variants are most likely derived from Gaelic forms of the name, such as MacGillafhaidh or Mac Gille Fhaoil.
The various spellings and changes of the name point to a shared familial history and an underlying culture that has remained intact over the centuries. Despite the many modifications to the original surname, the MacEleavy clan remains a part of the larger history of Scotland and Ireland.
Famous people with the name MacEleavy
- Danny MacELEAVY: American professional basketball player
- Eamon MacELEAVY: Irish artist, scenographer and filmmaker
- Jason MacELEAVY: American professional rock musician
- Michael MacELEAVY: Canadian politician from New Brunswick
- Robert MacELEAVY: Australian politician from the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Nora MacELEAVY: American stage and film actress
- Harriet MacELEAVY: British fashion designer
- John MacELEAVY: English playwright and director
- Siobhan MacELEAVY: Irish actress and musician
- Steve MacELEAVY: British television presenter and radio DJ