Surname MacElhoyle - Meaning and Origin
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MacElhoyle: What does the surname MacElhoyle mean?
The surname MacElhoyle is of Scottish or Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla-eo - meaning 'son of the follower or devotee of Eo'. Eo is an unspecified Gaelic personal name mentioned in many place names as the dedication of a devotion or prayer. It could also have been derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla-Mhaoil - meaning 'son of the devotee of the Blessed One'.
The surname can have several spelling variations, including MacIlhoyle, MacIllhoyle, MacLhoyle, MacUilhoyle, MacUllhoyle, MacGillhoyle and MacGhilhoyle. The MacElhoyle surname was common in the Scottish-Irish border counties, with many migrating to Ulster in the 1600s. The name is found in many records from the 1700s and seems to have been associated with the rural working class, with many working as fishermen, farmers and labourers.
The surname MacElhoyle is still present in Scotland, Ireland and North America today. The descendants of those who migrated in the 1600s are often found in large numbers across the United States. The name is a unique reminder of the Scottish-Irish history and is sure to remain an important part of our history for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisMacElhoyle: Where does the name MacElhoyle come from?
The last name MacElhoyle is most commonly found in Northern Ireland and Scotland today. It originated from an old Irish Gaelic clan of the same name who ruled over the ancient kingdom of Ossory in southern Ireland and the Hebrides islands of Scotland.
The MacElhoyle surname is most commonly spelled MacIllebhruide in Ireland. The prefix of 'Mac' means 'son of' in Gaelic, and ‘illebruide’ translates as ‘devotee of St. Bride’. This suggests that the original bearers of the last name were devotees of that saint.
Today, the MacElhoyle surname is most prevalent in the counties of Antrim and Down in Northern Ireland, particularly in the city of Belfast. It is also fairly common in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the Midlothian area.
In addition to traditional areas of settlement, the MacElhoyle surname is now spread across the world. Many began emigrating as early as the 19th century, largely independently. They were joined by even greater numbers in the early 20th century, when Ulster Scots migrated to North America, Australia and New Zealand in search of economic and political stability.
At present, the name is found in a variety of contexts, from the Gaelic artist MacElhoyle living in Scotland to the Canadian MacElhoyle brothers of Irish descent.
Variations of the surname MacElhoyle
The surname MacElhoyle has various spellings and variants, due to its phonetic origin, as well as many surnames of the same origin. These include MacElhoil, MacElhoill, MacElehoyle, McClehoyle, MacClehoyle, MacElhany, MacAlhany, MacAlhaney, MacElhauy, McClehauy, MacClehauy, MacKlehuly, McKlehuly, MacKlehulye, McKlehulye and MacGillhulye.
MacElhoyle is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuidhe, which means “son of the yellow-haired lad.” It is believed that this surname can refer to a number of different clans whose original ancestors each had fair hair, hence the name.
The MacElhoyle spelling of the surname emerged in the 17th century, and it appears in records dating from the mid-17th century, most notably in the 1659 ‘Census of Ireland’, as MacGiollabhuyd. This particular spelling of the surname has become the most common in both Ireland and the United States.
The surnames of the same origin as MacElhoyle include MacGilhuly, MacKulhuly, McKlehuly, MacKlehulye, McKlehulye and MacGillhulye, which have slightly different spellings but remain phonetically similar in pronunciation. Some of these variants add ‘Mc’ to the prefix of the surname, which is a common way to Anglicize an Irish surname.
The spelling of this surname in modern times can vary greatly depending on the family or individual using it, so it is important to remember that even though many of these variants may appear similar, they all ultimately refer to the same origin.
Famous people with the name MacElhoyle
- Joe MacElhoyle: American folk musician
- Rahmaan MacElhoyle: Chinese/American sculptor
- Doug MacElhoyle: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Erin MacElhoyle: Irish-American comedian
- Fiona MacElhoyle: Australian actress
- Dale MacElhoyle: English greyhound trainer
- Rani MacElhoyle: Indian singer
- Marc MacElhoyle: French writer
- Olivia MacElhoyle: American All-American tennis player
- Richard MacElhoyle: Canadian Journalist