Surname MacMeel - Meaning and Origin
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MacMeel: What does the surname MacMeel mean?
The surname MacMeel is believed to be of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac an Mhil, which translates to "son of the voice". This surname is common in County Armagh, and is derived from the local septs of MacMillan.
The most likely origin of the name is the Old Irish personal name 'Mountain', with the prefix 'Mac' meaning 'son of'. It is possible that bearers of the MacMeel surname were the descendants of a Norse bishop of Down or of Dalriada, who settled in the region in the 12th century.
The MacMillan sept of Armagh was known to be a powerful land-owning family in the area in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Over time, the name became anglicized to MacMeel, and it remains a common surname in Ireland. The MacMeel name has since been adopted by families of other nationalities, who may or may not have an Irish heritage.
In modern times, the MacMeel surname is still found in County Armagh, as well as many other regions in Ireland. It is also found in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other areas of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacMeel: Where does the name MacMeel come from?
The last name MacMeel is most commonly found today in the United States, particularly in those states where many Irish-Americans live such as Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. It is also found in smaller numbers in other parts of the U.S., including California and Florida.
MacMeel is originally derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Mhill, meaning “son of the Miller” or “son of the Miller”. The surname is generally associated with the Irish culture and it is likely that there are still some descendants of the original MacMeel families who live in Ireland today. The name MacMeel can also be found in other countries with a strong Irish population, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United States, the MacMeel families may have been among the earliest settlers and immigrants. According to oral tradition, some of the earliest MacMeel immigrants was the family of Paetrick MacMeel, who arrived in Maryland from County Mayo in Ireland in the late 1700s. His descendants later spread to other states, particularly Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Despite the migration of MacMeel families over the centuries, the name is still relatively uncommon in the United States today. The 2010 US Census found only 324 families with the last name MacMeel living in the country, making it a relatively rare surname. That being said, the Irish culture remains strong among those who carry the name MacMeel to this day and it is likely that families in some areas of the world still recognize the importance of the Irish heritage associated with the name.
Variations of the surname MacMeel
MacMeel is an anglicized form of the Irish surname MacMhaol, which literally translates to "son of the bald man". It is an uncommon name, but is thought to have originated in the western counties of Donegal and Leitrim. The original form of the name is MacMhaol, which can have a variety of spellings, including MacMhoal, MacMhail, MacMeel, MacMhael, MacMeall, and MhicMhail.
Variant spellings of the name can also include MacNeal, MacNeil, and MacNealy. These names are thought to have been used in areas in Ulster, Scotland, and possibly North America. It is thought that these variant spellings likely evolved over time due to the Gaelic language undergoing changes over generations.
It is believed that the MacMeel branch of the MacMhaol family line migrated to the North of Ireland in the 1700s. As a result, this surname can also be found in various other locations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and other immigrants’ host countries.
This surname can also be Anglicised as MacNeil. It could be spelt with one “L” as well, therefore MacNeel, MacNiel and MacNeel are some of the variants.
It is possible that the surname MacMeel may have originated as McMeel which could have been altered over time to the modern day spelling of MacMeel. The addition of "Mac" at the start of the name signifies "son of" in Gaelic. Therefore, it is possible that the name could have begun with McMeel meaning "son of Meel".
Famous people with the name MacMeel
- Eleanor MacMeel: Eleanor MacMeel is a fashion model and television personality from the United Kingdom. She is most known for appearing in the reality shows "Made in Chelsea" and "The Valleys". She also has her own line of luxury watches and is currently partnered with the British shoe company, Toms.
- Kevin MacMeel: Kevin MacMeel is an American actor. He is best known for his work in the television series "Breaking Bad" and the film "Centurion".
- Kenneth MacMeel: Kenneth MacMeel is an American actor and comedian. He is most known for his work on the sitcoms "The Bernie Mac Show" and "Chappelle's Show".
- Paul MacMeel: Paul MacMeel is an Irish playwright and actor. He is best known for his work in the plays "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" and "Dancing at Lughnasa".
- Patrick MacMeel: Patrick MacMeel is an American actor, best known for his work in the television series "True Blood" and the film "The Ugly Truth".
- Mark MacMeel: Mark MacMeel is an American singer-songwriter. He is most known for his work in the Folk music genre.
- Gordon MacMeel: Gordon MacMeel is an American politician. He was the mayor of Baltimore from 1967 to 1971.
- Rory MacMeel: Rory MacMeel is an American businessman. He is the founder and CEO of McDonough MacMeel, a consulting firm specializing in business strategy and financial analysis.