Surname MacGilloway - Meaning and Origin

MacGilloway: What does the surname MacGilloway mean?

The last name MacGilloway (also spelt MacGillivray, MacGillieway, MacGilleway, and the Scottish Gaelic Mac illEathain or MacGhille ‘Eathain) is of Scottish origin. It is derived from MacGiolla Eathain, from older Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Eádha (meaning "servant of St. Eidhin") where Mac means "son of" and Giolla Eidhin stands for "The Devotee of St. Eidhin".

St. Eidhin (also called St. Eadhn or St. Eathon) was a 6th century Christian Scottish saint who lived in Argyll, Scotland and is the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Argyll.

The MacGilloway/MacGillivray surname was often adopted for word-of-mouth reasons by people who stemmed from more Gaelic parts of Scotland, especially Argyll, where the church of St. Eathon is located.

MacGilloway, as a surname, signified a person who was a direct descendant of St. Eathon, believed to have devotedly served him. It is likely that the first recorded MacGilloway was a descendant of St. Eathon, hence, other people of the same district eventually took on the surname as a mark of respect.

The name is commonly found in the western Highlands and the islands of Scotland and is also fairly common in Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. Along with their Gaelic counterparts, the MacGilloway Clan holds the right to bear the arms, flag, and the sailing of their own tartan. In modern days, the name can be found spread across many countries, primarily United States and Canada.

MacGilloway: Where does the name MacGilloway come from?

The last name MacGilloway is most commonly found in Scotland and Ireland. It is also found in Canada, particularly on the eastern side of the country and in some parts of the United States, particularly in New England. The name originated in Scotland as a variation on the surname McDonnell, which would have been a Scottish version of the patronymic Gaelic form Mac Dhomhnaill. The MacGilloway spelling was likely influenced by the Anglicization of the McDonnell name.

The name MacGilloway is still quite common in Scotland. It is one of the top 75 most common surnames, according to the General Register Office for Scotland. It is particularly common in the western coastal regions, including Argyle and Bute where the original family roots may have been. It is also found in greater concentrations in the Glasgow and Edinburgh regions.

In Ireland, the name MacGilloway is found mainly in counties Roscommon and Offaly, which were part of Connacht. It was also found in greater numbers in Anglo-Norman settlements.

In the United States, the name is uncommon, although there is a concentration of it in the northeastern states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is likely that the surname migrated to the U.S. mainly through immigration from Scotland and Ireland during the early 1900s.

Variations of the surname MacGilloway

The surname MacGilloway is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Eochaf meaning son of the devotee of Eochu. The most common variants of this surname are MacGilloway, McGee, McKinney, MacKelway, and MacKelwy. Other, less common variations include MacIlleway, Magillaway, Milloway, and McGleway. Additionally, spelling variations can include MacGilloway, MacGilleway, and MacGillewie.

This surname is predominantly found in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England. However, there have been some migrations to the United States of America and Canada. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the name MacGilloway is often found in greater concentrations in the counties of Antrim and Down with similarly-named spellings such as Magee and McGillycuddy found in Galway and Clare. Variations of the name have also been found in the United States.

MacGilloway is the primary spelling of the surname; however, there are many other spellings and variants associated with this surname. As the family has spread throughout the years, people have adopted different surnames to fit different cultural and societal norms. It is likely that the name has been altered in many different ways. Although all of these variations are derived from the same origin, the different spellings provide a unique insight into the history of the MacGilloway family.

Famous people with the name MacGilloway

• Shelby MacGilloway: a Canadian television presenter
• Brady MacGilloway: an American musician
• Martha MacGilloway: a Scottish academic
• Cassie MacGilloway: an Australian stage actress
• Carlotta MacGilloway: a French fashion designer
• Sinclair MacGilloway: an English opera singer
• Owen MacGilloway: a Welsh professional golfer
• Jack MacGilloway: a Canadian NHL player
• Stasia MacGilloway: a Finnish theatre director
• Peter MacGilloway: a German engineer

Other surnames

MacGillonie