Surname MacKilkeary - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKilkeary: What does the surname MacKilkeary mean?
The last name MacKilkeary is a variation of the Irish surname MacEilchiaráin. This is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Oighricheáin, which has a literal meaning of “son of the devotee of Saint Eirc.” The prefix Mac is a Gaelic form of “son of,” indicating a patronymic surname. Eirc was a 9th century Irish saint who is said to have founded a monastery in County Mayo.
The MacKilkeary name is most often associated with the town of Killala, located in County Mayo, Ireland. There are other versions of the surname and its variants, such as MacKilmartin, MacKilmurry, and MacKilroy, all of which have a similar meaning. The last name has been passed down through the generations and is still present in parts of Ireland and Scotland today.
The traditional Irish culture attached great importance to heraldry and lines of familial ancestry, and the MacKilkeary name is no exception - it proudly displays an ancient family history tracing back to the devotional work of Saint Eirc. Its traditional pronunciation of “MAK-uhl-kah-ree” retains its distinct and unique Celtic character, and the name serves to preserve the memory of a saint’s legacy in County Mayo, Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilkeary: Where does the name MacKilkeary come from?
The last name MacKilkeary is most commonly found today in Ireland and Scotland. It is an anglicized form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname MacIllCharra, which is derived from the Irish personal name Mac Giolla Charraigh, meaning ‘the devotee of Saint Carraig’.
The surname MacKilkeary is quite popular in the Republic of Ireland. It is particularly found in the counties of Mayo and Galway, as well as in parts of the counties of Clare, Donegal, Dublin and Kerry. In Scotland, the surname MacKilkeary is found chiefly in the counties of Highlands and Islands, as well as in Glasgow.
MacKilkeary is also found in other countries worldwide. In the United States, it is most commonly found in states such as New Jersey, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, and other northeastern regions. It is also found in Canada, with a particularly high concentration in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. MacKilkeary is also commonly found in England, Australia, and New Zealand. The prevalence of the surname in these regions indicates the continual dispersal of Irish and Scottish settlers throughout history.
Variations of the surname MacKilkeary
MacKilkeary, MacKilkerry, and MacKelkerry are all variants of the same origin surname. The surname is derived from an old Gaelic phrase of Mac an Choilleair, which translates as “son of the woodsman”. Variants on this name have been around since 1600 and are still common today throughout Ireland and Scotland.
Spelling variations of MacKilkeary often include Mackilkeary, MacKkerry, MacKelkerry, and MacKelkerry. This variation occurs due to the use of phonetic spelling and dialect variations, as some areas of Scotland and Ireland have had difficulty recording exact spellings of surnames due to regional dialects.
Surnames with similar origins to MacKilkeary include MacKilkerry, McCulloch, and McKillop. These surnames all derived from the old Gaelic phrase of Mac an Choilleair, though the spelling and variations might be slightly different. Therefore, variations in spelling and surnames might vary from region to region.
In conclusion, MacKilkeary is an old Gaelic phrase meaning “son of the woodsman” and is generally recognized as having variants on the spelling. The surname can also have multiple spellings due to regional dialects and phonetic spelling changes. In addition, similar surnames such as MacKilkerry, McCulloch, and McKillop can arise due to similar origins and slight spelling variations.
Famous people with the name MacKilkeary
1.Ryan MacKilkeary: Ryan MacKilkeary is an American actor known for his roles as Clark McCandless in the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth and Felix in the film Space Warriors. 2.Wolfgang MacKilkeary: Wolfgang MacKilkeary is an American singer and songwriter, most recently known for his work with the band The Dream Ride. 3.Scott MacKilkeary: Scott MacKilkeary is an American film and television producer and writer known for his work on the hit AMC series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. 4.Cheryl MacKilkeary: Cheryl MacKilkeary is an American singer, songwriter, and visual artist. She has been nominated for four Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Country Album, Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, and Best Country Song. 5.Connor MacKilkeary: Connor MacKilkeary is an American entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder of the venture capital firm MacKilkeary Capital, a company specializing in seed capital, venture capital, and angel investments. 6.Gorham MacKilkeary: Gorham MacKilkeary is an American composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a notable member of the bands The Raindrop Parade, Awesome Nauseum, and The Nowhere Man. 7.Corey MacKilkeary: Corey MacKilkeary is an American film director and editor known for directing and editing the documentary films 'A Bicycle Built For Two' and 'Blood Siblings'. 8.Valon MacKilkeary: Valon MacKilkeary is an American actor best known for his roles in the hit television shows 'How I Met Your Mother', 'Party Down', and 'Veronica Mars'. 9.James MacKilkeary: James MacKilkeary is an American actor, voice actor, and comedian known for roles in the television show 'The Middle', the film series 'Scary Movie', and the Nickelodeon series 'iCarly'. 10.Alice MacKilkeary: Alice MacKilkeary is an American author and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her New York Times best-selling trilogy 'The Human Race'.