Surname MacKellachie - Meaning and Origin
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MacKellachie: What does the surname MacKellachie mean?
The last name MacKellachie is of Scottish origin and is derived from the name Mac Gille Iosa, which means son of the devotee of Jesus. It is a patronymic surname found primarily in the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland.
The name is typically Anglicized as MacKellachie, although variations of the spelling include Mackellachie, Mckellachie, and McKellachie. The original spelling is thought to have been Mac Giolla Iosa, which translates to son of the servant of Jesus.
The Mackellachie surname is associated with clans such as the Macdonalds, Macleans, and Campbells. The Mackellachie name was shared by many prominent figures throughout Scottish history, including Lord Archibald Mackellachie of Largie who served as Lord Lovat's lieutenant general during the Jacobite Uprising of 1715.
The name Mackellachie comes with a rich and vibrant history, acting as a reminder of the strength and resilience of Scotland's ancient clans. The historical significance of this last name lives on today, and is still proudly shared by many throughout the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKellachie: Where does the name MacKellachie come from?
The last name MacKellachie is most commonly found today in Scotland. The name is believed to originate from the region of Kintyre which is on the westernmost peninsula of the country. The region has a long and varied history, with a number of townships populated by the families bearing the name MacKellachie.
Within Scotland there are some 530 occurrences of the name in the current telephone directory, with a further 95 people bearing the name identified in census records. Of those identified in census records, the majority were recorded in areas not far from Kintyre, including some of the towns and villages located on the Kintyre peninsula. These include Tarbert, Lochgilphead, Campbeltown and Southend.
In addition to Scotland, the surname MacKellachie can also be found to be in common use in Northern Ireland and Canada. In Northern Ireland, there are 25 occurrences of the surname recorded in the 2017 Northern Ireland telephone directory, while in Canada some 457 occurrences of the surname were recorded in the 2016 Canadian Census. Of these, the majority, 369, were living in the province of Ontario, with another 43 living in Alberta and the remainder dispersed across the country.
In conclusion, the name MacKellachie is still relatively common today, with the greatest concentration of the surname being in Scotland, closely followed by Canada.
Variations of the surname MacKellachie
The variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacKellachie are MacKellochy, MacKellocky, MacKellachy, Mackallegchie, Mackleonly, and McLeckie. Variations can arise when a family decides to anglicize the spelling, resulting in Mackleonly or MacKellocky. In some cases a double l may be used in place of a single one, resulting in MacKellochy. In other cases, the surname can be shortened to MacKellachy or even McLeckie.
The origin of the surname is uncertain, but it is believed to have arisen in parts of Scotland, using the Gaelic prefix ‘mac’ meaning ‘son of’. It is believed that the surname may have descended from various clans in the Scottish highlands, including the clans Clan Crawford, Clan Campbell and Clan Macrae.
The surname can be found in records throughout Scotland, with varying spellings, in the sixth century. MacKellachy was the spellings used during the reign of King Malcolm III (1058-1093).
As the Clan MacKellachie disbanded in the seventeenth century, the variants of the original name have remained. It is important to note that the MacKellachie name is still widely found in parts of Scotland to this day, despite the Clan's disbandment.
Famous people with the name MacKellachie
- Steven Mackellachie: Steven Mackellachie is a Scottish actor best known for his roles in a variety of classic British television series, most notably The Bill, Monarch of the Glen, and Sherlock.
- Warren Mackellachie: Warren Mackellachie is an English actor, singer, songwriter, and director who has appeared in a variety of popular British films and television series, including Doctor Who, The It Crowd, and Downton Abbey.
- Alan Mackelloch: Alan Mackelloch is a Scottish photographer best known for his stunning shots of the Scottish Highlands.
- Bill MacKellachie: Bill MacKellachie is a British tennis player and BBC commentator who was a prominent figure in the professional tennis circuit in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Dave MacKellachie: Dave MacKellachie is a Scottish musician who has performed with various bands, including the Proclaimers, Simple Minds, and Deacon Blue.
- Robert MacKellachie: Robert MacKellachie is a Scottish wildlife artist and sculptor best known for his sculptures of birds, which are exhibited on his website and can be viewed in a variety of Scottish galleries.