Surname MacGillonie - Meaning and Origin

MacGillonie: What does the surname MacGillonie mean?

The last name MacGillonie derives from the Gaelic term Mac Gilleonadh, which means “son of the servant of St John.” St John was a popular figure in Scotland during the Middle Ages due to the veneration of St Columba, from whom many Scottish clans descended.

The MacGillonie surname likely dates back to the 13th century when the name appeared in Dalriada, an Irish kingdom and the earliest recorded kingdom of the Scots. The clan was formed by the sept of Gilionaidh, a raid of the larger Clan Campbell in the Argyll region. The MacGillonie were known for their cattle herding, and the members of the clan lived in the western and highlands of Scotland.

The MacGillonies remained in their argyll home until the 18th century when they began to emigrate to the U.S. and Canada. The majority of MacGillonies in America today are from the descendants of the clans of Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales.

The MacGillonie name reflects the proud history of Scotland and the legacy of the hardworking and determined families who built a nation out of adversity. Those who can claim the name MacGillonie can be proud that their ancestor was a loyal servant of Scotland, and those they left behind are a testament to the strength that comes from strong roots and the courage that comes from keeping the faith of the ancient gods of the Celts and Picts.

MacGillonie: Where does the name MacGillonie come from?

The last name MacGillonie is a Scottish surname most commonly found in the modern-day United Kingdom. It derives from the ancient Gaelic language and translates to "son of the servant of St. John." The MacGillonie surname is most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands, where there are a few towns and villages bearing the name such as Abernethy, Cluny, and Pitlochry. The MacGillonie name is most common in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, especially near the cities of Banff, Ellon and Elgin. The small town of MacGillonie is in Aberdeenshire, located near Forgue and named after the surname. Today, MacGillonie is a popular Scottish surname, and its bearer can be found throughout Scotland and scattered throughout other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond. It is still mainly found in Scotland, though some have spread from there to other parts of Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and other countries across the world.

Variations of the surname MacGillonie

MacGillonie is an uncommon Scottish surname of Gaelic origins. It is sometimes spelled as MacGillionie, MacGillonay, MacGilloney, MacGillenie, MacGullenie, and MacGallonie. In its original form, the MacGillonie surname derived from the Gaelic MacGill Eoin meaning ‘Son of the Devotee of John’.

Variants of MacGillonie often appear in different spellings. Some of the most common variants include MacGullenie, MacGilleeony, MacGillaway, MacGallne, MacGilloney, MacGillenay, MacGillenee, and MacGillenie.

The surname is also often used as a double barrelled name, such as MacGillonie MacDhughaill or MacGillonie MacGillooly. Additionally, some families have adjusted their pronunciation or spelling to MacGillivray or MacGillivrae.

The MacGillonie surname is found in both Ireland and Scotland, however its use is much more uncommon in Ireland. In Scotland, it is most commonly found in the Western Isles as well as in counties such as Highland, Perthshire, and Ayrshire.

It is believed that the progenitor of this family was an early 13th century Gaelic chief named Gilleoin. He was part of the Clann Donnchaidh, and his descendants took on the surname MacGilli Eoin in honour of their ancestor, which eventually evolved to MacGillonie.

Famous people with the name MacGillonie

• Mark MacGillonie: an award-winning home-improvement presenter from Scotland.
• Malcolm MacGillonie: a former professional footballer from Scotland who played for the Scottish Premier League club Greenock Morton Football Club.
• Kevan MacGillonie: a professional footballer from Scotland who is currently playing for Greenock Morton Football Club.
• Ian MacGillonie: a former professional rugby union player from Scotland who played for the Scottish Rugby Union.
• Simon MacGillonie: a comedian from Scotland, best known for his observational comedy shows.
• Colin MacGillonie: a bagpipe player from Scotland, who has performed at multiple events such as the World Pipe Band Championships.
• Paul MacGillonie: a professional golfer from Scotland, who has won multiple tournaments in the Professional Golf Association of Europe.
• John MacGillonie: a songwriter and musician from Scotland, who is best known for his folk ballads.
• Patrick MacGillonie: an actor from Scotland who has appeared in TV shows such as Monarch of the Glen, and films such as Lone Wolf.
• Rob MacGillonie: a fashion designer from Scotland, who has created unique designs for a number of magazines and fashion shows.

Other surnames

MacGilloway