Surname MacGilhooly - Meaning and Origin
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MacGilhooly: What does the surname MacGilhooly mean?
The last name MacGilhooly is a Gaelic origin name found most commonly in Scotland and Ireland. The literal meaning of the name is “son of the servant of the hound”. It is an Anglicization of the Gaelic name “Mac Giolla Choile”.
The Gaelic name “Mac Giolla Choile” is derived from two parts: “Mac” meaning ‘son of’ and “Gillchoil” or “Gilla Choille” meaning “servant of the hound”. The hound referenced may be a reference to a hound that assisted with hunting.
The exact origin of the name remains unclear as different sources trace it to different locations. It may have derived from either a sept of MacDermots in Counties Leitrim and Roscommon in Ireland, or from the Mackillop family of Scotland who were originally located in Strath Nairn in Inverness-shire.
The MacGilhooly name is primarily found in Scotland and Ireland, though some branches of the family have migrated to other nations including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Variations of the name found in Scotland and Ireland include Mackilhooly and Mackilloholy.
The MacGilhooly family members usually share a common heritage and share the same clan coat of arms. The crest is a red lion with a gold crown on its left paw, standing on a red striped field.Its motto is “Luceo Non Uro” which translates to “I Shine, Not Burn”. The family is a source of pride for its members and the Coat of Arms is a reminder of the shared heritage of the clan.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGilhooly: Where does the name MacGilhooly come from?
The last name MacGilhooly can be found mainly in Scotland and Ireland, although it is also seen throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States. In Scotland, the name is mostly found in counties including Argyll and Bute, as well as on the islands of Skye, Islay, Tiree and Severon. It is particularly concentrated on the west coast. In Ireland, the surname is common mainly in the province of Connacht and in County Carlow. The MacGilhooly name also has a presence in countries such as Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Canada, Australia, France and the United States.
In the US, more precisely, MacGilhooly is seen in all states, but more commonly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Nebraska, California, Kentucky and Illinois. It is unknown when, but it is thought that the MacGilhooly family first migrated to the US over 200 years ago. It is believed that some of the later immigrants came from Scotland in the 1800s.
The ancestry of the MacGilhooly family is believed to come from the ancient Gaelic Clann of Ua Maic Giolla Luaith. The clann of Ua Maic Gilaa Luaith was founded by a man named Giolla Luaith who was the son of the King of Connacht.
No matter if they spell their surname as MacGilhooly, McGilhooly, Gilhooly or any other variant, the proper crest badge of a MacGilhooly is three green trefoils within a double tressure flory counter-flory. Therefore, the surname of MacGilhooly is mainly found in Scotland, Ireland and throughout the United States and other countries.
Variations of the surname MacGilhooly
The surname MacGilhooly is a patronymic name that is found primarily in Ireland. The name has a variety of variants, including MacGillhooley, MacGillooley, and sometimes with an additional 'y', which means "son of Gilhooly".
The most common spelling of the surname MacGilhooly is MacGillhooley. This spelling is the one that remains closest to the original Gaelic spelling. The Gaelic name MacGiolla-Uighil (or macGhilloghlí, in modern spelling) can be loosely translated to mean "devotee of Saint Hugh". The Mac prefix indicates the name is of patronymic origin, meaning 'son of.'
The alternative spellings of the MacGilhooly surname include MacGillooley and MacGillogley. These are derived from the same MacGiolla-Uighil Gaelic root. The MacGillooley spelling was probably derived by someone adding an extra 'o', and the MacGillogley variant is likely a corruption of MacGillhooley.
In addition to these variants, the surname MacGilhooly can be found in other Irish surname derivations, such as MacGilleoghly, MacGillechey and MacGillesprit. These surnames may be spelled differently but they all trace back to the original MacGilhooly root.
MacGilhooly family members can also be found in other countries, from the United States to Australia. In these countries, the surname is usually spelt 1MacGillhooley, although variants such as Magilhooley and Makilhooley can also be found.
Overall, the MacGilhooly name appears in a variety of spellings and derivations, but at its core it remains the same Gaelic patronymic name from centuries past.
Famous people with the name MacGilhooly
- Alistair MacGilhooly: a British pianist who has toured throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and released the album "Lanes".
- Garry MacGilhooly: a Scottish actor best known for his appearances in the films "Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie" and "The Decoy Bride".
- Angus MacGilhooly: a former Scottish professional footballer who played for Stenhousemuir F.C.
- Murdo MacGilhooly: a Scottish cricketer who played for the Scotland national cricket team in the 1980s.
- Emma MacGilhooly: an English actress who has appeared in various television series, such as "Downton Abbey", "Death in Paradise", and "Babylon".
- Lana MacGilhooly: an Australian singer-songwriter who has released two studio albums and one extended play (EP).
- Fuzz MacGilhooly: an English musician who is the lead guitarist for the punk band "The Jezebels".
- John MacGilhooly: a Northern Irish former professional football player who played for Carrick Rangers F.C.
- Jody MacGilhooly: an American professional wrestler who currently wrestles on the independent circuit.
- Jenny MacGilhooly: a Scottish singer-songwriter who has released five studio albums.