Surname Mc Ilkenny - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mc Ilkenny: What does the surname Mc Ilkenny mean?
The surname Mc Ilkenny is of Irish origin where "Mc" or "Mac" generally means "son of". However, without more information or historical context, the precise meaning of "Ilkenny" is difficult to determine. Ilkenny could be a phonetic variation or misspelling of a more recognizable Irish name. As is common with Gaelic names, spelling variations can exist depending on the regional dialects and phonetic interpretations. The specific meaning of "Ilkenny" itself doesn't seem to be readily available in common surname databases which suggests it might be a very uncommon name or a specific deviation unique to a certain family line. Given the fluid nature of name spellings over centuries, tracing the exact history or meaning could require detailed genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisMc Ilkenny: Where does the name Mc Ilkenny come from?
The surname Mc Ilkenny is of Irish origin, derived from the Irish personal name Ceannaidh which means "the helmeted one" or "ugly head". The 'Mc' prefix means 'son of'. Thus, Mc Ilkenny may possibly mean "son of the helmeted one".
The surname is not common and appears to be quite rare. As such, it does not have a high concentration or commonality in any specific geographical area today. Due to patterns of migration, it is likely that individuals with this surname can be found in various places where Irish diaspora settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the British Isles. However, it should be noted that its distribution is likely to be sporadic given the rarity of the surname.
Please note that there can be variations in spelling due to Anglicization of the original Gaelic surname, transliteration issues, or changes over time. Therefore, the surname might have different spellings or forms (like McIlkenny, McKilkenny, etc.) and each might have a different commonality and distribution pattern.
Variations of the surname Mc Ilkenny
The surname Mc Ilkenny is of Irish origin and its different variants and spellings can be influenced by the various dialects of the Irish language, processes of anglicization, and transliteration efforts. Variants could include MacIlkenny, McIlkenney, McElkenny, McKilkenny, McKilkinny. These are just a few examples as the variations can be numerous.
A similar surname that could be of the same origin is MacIlhenney, which sounds phonetically similar and has a similar structure. The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' both mean 'son of' in Irish and Scottish, thus these names likely denote a relation to a common ancestor - perhaps a man named Ilkenny or Ilhenney.
The name could have originally been Ó hEachacháin, which was anglicized to MacIlkenny. This surname has many other variants including McEachin, McKechan, MacGeough, and MacGeachie.
The surname MacAlpin, despite sounding superficially similar, is of Scottish origin and would therefore not be considered a variant of McIlkenny.
It may be worth noting there is an Irish surname Ilkin, and adding the McKin or McIl could have created McKinilkin or McIlkin which could be confused with McIlkenny. Similarly, the surnames Kilkenny or Mc Kilkenny could also get confused with Mc Ilkenny.
However, precise origins and variants of the name would require detailed genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Mc Ilkenny
- Tommy McIlkenny: former football player and All-American
- Juliette McIlkenny-Davies: British actress and model
- Sara McIlkenny: Australian lawyer and human rights activist
- Matthew McIlkenny: Former Chief of Naval Operations for the US Navy
- Tony McIlkenny: British professional football manager
- Anne McIlkenny: Irish film director and screenwriter
- Danny McIlkenny: lead singer of British-Irish ban The Differences
- Gail McIlkenny: American historian and author
- Chris McIlkenny: American country music artist
- Tonya McIlkenny: Australian television writer, producer, and director