Surname MacKilfedder - Meaning and Origin
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MacKilfedder: What does the surname MacKilfedder mean?
The last name MacKilfedder is of Scottish origin and believed to derive from the Gaelic Mac Theoilt, meaning “son of Theoilt”. The surname is thought to have originated from Scotland’s northwest coast, mainly Argyll and the Isles, with the word ‘Kil’ meaning ‘church’.
The MacKilfedder name is believed to refer to a church leader's family. It is possible that the MacKilfedder name came from a church in the region and that members of this family were church leaders. Alternatively, it may refer to someone from the area of Kilfedder, an old parish of the Isle of Islay in Scotland.
The MacKilfedder's have a long history in Scotland, and their name has been recorded as far back as the 1300’s. They have spread across much of the globe since then, with some families residing in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The traditional Clan tartan of the MacKilfedder family is green and red plaid, showing their loyalty to the Clan MacDonald. To this day, members of the family wear this tartan to express their family heritage and pride. As such, the MacKilfedder name will continue to represent a strong link to Scotland’s past, where loyalty and tradition are still honoured and celebrated.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilfedder: Where does the name MacKilfedder come from?
The last name MacKilfedder is primarily associated with Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and the United States. It has its roots in Ireland and Scotland, from the root Kilfedder. The name refers to an ancient clan system in those regions, where a group of people would take a name for themselves, and all the people within that group would have the same last name.
In Scotland, the last name is most common in the far north, especially in the Cities of Inverness, Perth, and Glasgow. In Ireland, the name is most commonly found in the Province of Ulster, with many of the counties in the far north having the highest proportion of MacKilfedder names.
In Canada, most of the people with the last name MacKilfedder are concentrated in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, with the largest numbers in Ontario. Similarly, in Australia and the United States, the name is most commonly found in the Northern Territories and in California and New York/New Jersey.
Regardless of the region, the last name MacKilfedder is a powerful one, evoking images of ancient clans and generations of people who have called the same name their own.
Variations of the surname MacKilfedder
The surname MacKilfedder has several variants, spellings and surnames related to it in different scholars and references. Some of the variations recorded over time include M’Kilfedder, MacPhilip, MacKilpheder, MacKillfudder, MacKilfeddar, McKilphedder, MacGillefedder, McKilfedder and McKilfiddler.
Mackay’s records in A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography of the period, state that the MacKilfedder name is derived from the old Gaelic name MacAilpeadair. It is usually Anglicised as “MacPhillip” and sometimes as “MacKilfederder”.
The name is associated with a family of MacKittrick, or MacKittrick, a branch of the old Irish Clan of the MacMillan’s. The MacKilfedders were recorded as living in Ulster in the 1600s, and as having left Scotland for Ireland around the 17th century. The name is believed to be derived from the old Scots Gaelic word ‘maccill’, meaning ‘son of a blind man’.
In some instances, the MacKilfedder surname has been spelled as M'Kilfudder or McKilfedder in records and the surname has been found throughout England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in the last two centuries. It is also associated with a small number of other names, such as MacKillfudder, Kilfeder and MacMillan. It is also found as the surnames M'Ailpeadair, MacAilpeadair, McKiever and Kilfoddar in Scotland and Ireland.
Today, the MacKilfedder and related surname variants are still found across the British Isles in countries such as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, along with some parts of North America.
Famous people with the name MacKilfedder
- David MacKilfedder: British politician, Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party
- Ryan MacKilfedder: Canadian professional wrestler
- James MacKilfedder: Australian actor, best known for his roles in the TV series East West 101 and Fat Pizza vs. Housos
- Joe MacKilfedder: Professional soccer player for the Scottish based club, Heart of Midlothian
- Louise MacKilfedder: Award-winning Scottish children’s author
- Donna MacKilfedder: Canadian visual artist who specializes in oil and acrylic paintings
- Aileen MacKilfedder: Scottish architect and language teacher who designed the Falkirk Wheel
- Kirsty MacKilfedder: British television presenter best known for presenting the BBC’s Match of the Day
- Fiona MacKilfedder: Award-winning Scottish actress, best known for her roles in the TV series Taggart and Monarch of the Glen
- Derry MacKilfedder: Scottish professional golfer, winner of the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2000