Surname MacKilrain - Meaning and Origin

MacKilrain: What does the surname MacKilrain mean?

The last name MacKilrain originated from the ancient Gaelic language, with its root being "Mac Giolla Raithin," which translates loosely to "son of the devotee of St. Raithin." Those with the MacKilrain surname are believed to have originated in the ancient kingdom of Connacht in what is now western Ireland.

The MacKilrain family is just one of the many branches of the larger Ui Fiachrach Clan, which established itself in the area centuries ago. The clan dates back to the 10th century and has ties to both the O'Flaherty's and O'Dowd's – two of the most influential families in medieval Ireland.

The MacKilrain surname is found mainly in the border counties of Donegal and Fermanagh in Northwest Ireland. For centuries, it was a name found amongst the many families who worked as tenant farmers in the area, harvesting the rich land and tending the livestock that they owned.

Today, many of those with the MacKilrain name live in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Europe. It is still a common name in much of Ireland, and its owners take great pride in their long and storied history.

MacKilrain: Where does the name MacKilrain come from?

The last name MacKilrain is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in the north-eastern region of Ulster. It is believed to have originated with the Scottish MacDonalds who came to Ulster during the 17th century Plantation of Ulster. The MacKilrain family claim descent from Randal MacDonnell, a member of the powerful Clan Donald who served as Earl of Antrim following their arrival in Ireland. The MacKilrain name has been associated with Irish and northern Irish history ever since.

More recently, the surname can also be found in England, Scotland and the United States. It is believed that some emigrated from the north-eastern part of Ireland to Scotland during the Highland Clearances in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and many went on to set up new lives in America.

Today, MacKilrain is still a fairly rare surname - it is estimated to be shared by only a few thousand people across the world. Nevertheless, it is still most commonly associated with Ireland and northern Ireland, and many of the clan can still be found in their ancestral homeland.

Variations of the surname MacKilrain

MacKilrain is an anglicized version of the Irish surname MacGiolla Riabhaigh, which is derived from a personal name meaning “servant of Riabhach”. The name has many possible variants and spellings depending on the region in which it is found. In some parts of Ireland it is spelled MacGiolla Riabhaigh, while in Scotland it is spelled Macilraith. In northern Ireland, it is usually spelled MacKilraine, MacKilroy, or MacKilrain. In other parts of Ireland, it is spelled MacKilreavy, MacKilree, MacKilroi, MacKilroe, and MacKilrea. In Galway, the spelling is usually MacIlroain or MacKilraine.

In Scotland there are numerous spellings for the same surname. These include: MacEleary, MacElere, MacKilrae, MacKilraith, MacKildare, MacKilray, MacKilrane, MacKilree, MacKilrey, MacKilroy, MacKilroye, MacKilree, and MacKilrites. In the United States, the surname is usually spelled MacKelrain, MacKelrae, or MacKelroy.

One should also note that MacKilrain can take on additional surnames depending on the region from which it is derived. In Scotland, it is sometimes spelled MacKillop or MacKilhilp, while in Ireland it can take on other surnames such as MacKillop, MacKilgariff, or MacKilfoyle.

In summary, MacKilrain is an Irish surname that can have numerous variants, spellings, and surnames dependent on the region in which it is found. Variant spellings for the surname include MacGiolla Riabhaigh, MacKelrain, MacKilraine, MacKilroy, MacKilreavy, MacKilree, MacKilroi, MacKilroe, MacKilrea, MacEleary, MacElere, MacKilrae, MacKilraith, MacKildare, MacKilray, MacKilrane, MacKilroye, MacKilrites, MacKillop, MacKilhilp, MacKilgariff, and MacKilfoyle.

Famous people with the name MacKilrain

• Kenneth MacKilrain, Scottish footballer who played with Dunfermline Athletic
• Thomas MacKilrain, Irish politician who served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1880 to 1881
• David MacKilrain, American actor who appeared in the TV series “The Americans”
• John MacKilrain, British botanist who travelled extensively in Africa and wrote “Notes on the Flora of Northern Africa”
• James MacKilrain, Canadian photographer known for his striking photographs of Ontario countryside
• Robert MacKilrain, Australian illustrator whose works include “A Pictorial History of the Royal Flying Corps”
• Andrew MacKilrain, Scottish-American engineer and inventor who made several important contributions to the early development of the electric light bulb
• Antonio MacKilrain, Brazilian architect who designed many churches and public buildings during the 19th century
• Richard MacKilrain, Irish professional rugby union player who played with the provincial sides Munster and Leinster
• William MacKilrain, British engineer and physicist who researched methods of forming special alloys used in the creation of advanced aircraft and rockets

Other surnames

MacKilreaMacKilroy