Surname MacIlgorm - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacIlgorm: What does the surname MacIlgorm mean?
The surname MacIlgorm is an anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name MacIl-Ghoirm, which can be roughly translated to MacElGorm, meaning “Son of ElGorm”. ElGorm was the Gaelic given name of the 9th century Irish Chieftain Ailgorm mac Máelchon, who was a leader of the Érainn people from modern-day County Munster in Ireland. The Érainn were ancient Celtic people who predated the Gaels, and MacIlgorm has likely been in use by the descendants of Ailgorm mac Máelchon for hundreds of years.
MacIlgorm is a sept, or sub-clan, of the larger O’Neill clan, which was one of the most prominent Irish clans of the middle ages. MacIlgorm is a variation of MacElGorm, which is still in use by many modern day Irish, Scots, and Welsh people today.
The name MacIlgorm is derived from the ancient Gaelic root words ilg and gorm, which mean “elbow” and “blue” respectively. This combination of words has been linked to many old Irish and Scottish elements, including Elcarm, meaning “elbow of justice”, and Elcmhain, meaning “blue one”.
In Irish mythology, the name MacIlgorm is thought to signify a heroic and noble warrior; one who values justice and honour, and is devoted to his family and people. To this day, the surname MacIlgorm still carries with it a sense of pride and honour amongst those who use it.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIlgorm: Where does the name MacIlgorm come from?
The last name MacIlgorm is predominantly found in Ireland and Scotland today.
MacIlgorm is a Gaelic surname derived from the Irish language, and so is more commonly found in these countries. In Ireland, the surname is most prevalent in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht. In Ulster, it is scattered in counties including Down, Antrim, and Donegal. In Connacht, it is much more sparse, being found mainly in Mayo and Galway.
In Scotland, the surname is present mainly in the Highlands and Islands. Here, it is most common in the Western Isles region, especially on the islands of Barra and Eriskay.
The surname can also occasionally be found in other countries around the British Isles, particularly in the USA and Canada, where it is present among many Irish and Scottish emigrants.
Overall, the surname MacIlgorm is still quite common today, especially in the countries of its origin - Ireland and Scotland.
Variations of the surname MacIlgorm
The surname MacIlgorm, which is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Ghorm (which translates to "son of the servant of Gorm"), is a Scottish clan name associated with the Highlands. The variants, spellings and surnames stemming from this clan name are typically found in areas of Scotland, Ireland, Northern England, and other historically Celtic regions.
Variants include MacElgorm, MacElgairm, MacKilgoram, MacKilgormon, MacKilgram, and MacKilgourm. Spellings are often variants of the same name, such as MacKilgrim, MacKilgreem, MacElgreem and MacKilgon. Other surnames stemming from MacIlgorm include Gillgorm, Gormley, Gormlie, and Gormie.
Other more modern variants of the surname MacIlgorm are often connected to anglicised Welsh and Irish origins, rather than Scottish. These include primarily Macilgate, Macildoon, Rotch, and Colgrim.
There is also a possible Norse origin of the name. Viking settlers in Scotland may have also used forms of MacIlgorm in the past. For example, forms such as Kilgour, Kilgram, and Kilgore may have originated with the Viking version of the name, Kjellgurr.
Though variants and spellings of the same origin surface in multiple languages and regions, the surname MacIlgorm itself can predominantly be found in Scotland. Furthermore, documents written as far back as the 13th century can record the spelling of this surname, demonstrating its long history in the Highlands.
Famous people with the name MacIlgorm
- Bernie MacIlgorm: a Scottish Gaelic singer-songwriter and actor known for his traditional music repertoire and for the TV series Heartbeat.
- Mark MacIlgorm: a rugby player from Ireland who represented his country at the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
- Frank MacIlgorm: an Australian politician who served as the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General in the Government of Queensland from 2011 to 2012.
- Eimear MacIlgorm: an Irish singer and songwriter who has been recording traditional music since the age of 15.
- Andrew MacIlgorm: the first Minister for Education in Scottish history and served as the Minister from 2007 to 2011.
- Ewan MacIlgorm: an actor, best known for playing the role of Sergeant George Murphy in the TV series Heartbeat.
- Fiona MacIlgorm: a Scottish artist who has exhibited her work in numerous galleries and museums.
- Colin MacIlgorm: a Scottish historian who has written extensively on the history of Scotland and its people.
- Luke MacIlgorm: an Irish-born actor who is best known for his roles in award-winning films including The Departed, Heat, and Gangs of New York.
- Lorna MacIlgorm: the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Member of Parliament for Aberdeen North.