Surname McElhone - Meaning and Origin
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McElhone: What does the surname McElhone mean?
The last name McElhone is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Ó Maoilsheachnaigh, which translates to 'son of the devotee of St Sechnaill' or 'descendant of St Sechnaill's devotee'.
St Sechnaill was a 6th Century Christian Saint who was born in County Meath, Ireland. He is credited for uniting the five provinces of Ireland into one kingdom.
Because of his religion, Saint Sechnaill was an active missionary in the area, which led to him being revered and many people devoted to him. Thus, the surname McElhone is derived from the devotion of St Sechnaill.
The surname McElhone is quite widespread, particularly in Scotland and Ireland where it is primarily found. It could be assumed that it begun to migrate to other places in the world with the migration of Irish and Scottish nationals.
McElhone is somewhat of a unique name, with few other variations or spellings of it. It is a proud name, and is certainly an interesting history behind its origin. Those with the name McElhone should be glad to have such a devotional and well-respected name.
Order DNA origin analysisMcElhone: Where does the name McElhone come from?
The last name McElhone is most commonly found today in Ireland and the U.K. According to MyHeritage, the McElhone surname is of Irish origin and is most likely derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Eoin" meaning "son of the servant of (St.) John". It is a fairly rare name, with an estimated only a few thousand people all over the world holding the McElhone name as of the mid 2000s.
McElhone is most prevalent in Ireland, with records showing it arriving as far back as the late 12th century. In more recent times, MyHeritage records show the most McElhone households living in the Irish counties of Cork, Louth, Westmeath, Meath, and Dublin.
In the U.K., McElhone has been traditionally associated with Scotland too, though it is not as popular there as in Ireland. The 2011 UK Census records the McElhone name as found in England and Wales with 249 people, and in Scotland with 143 people. These records indicate that the largest McElhone population in the U.K. is in the Greater London area with 40 people.
Finally, McElhone also appears to be present in Australia, the US, and Canada, though in much smaller numbers.
Overall, the last name McElhone is most common today in Ireland and the U.K. with records stretching all the way back to the 12th century. However, it also appears to be present in smaller numbers in the US, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname McElhone
The surname McElhone has several variant spellings, reflecting its historical roots in Ireland and Scotland. The Irish spelling is MacGiolla Eoin, which literally translates as ‘son of the servant of John’. This spelling is quite commonly found in modern Ireland, particularly in counties Galway and Mayo. In Scotland, the surname is spelt MacIlhone, with an 'I'. This spelling was historically found in the Western Isles, particularly on the Isle of Lewis.
In addition, there are a range of surnames which share the same ancestor as McElhone, but have been adapted through different processes. This includes 'McGillowne', which was likely adapted from the Irish spelling in Scotland due to phonetic similarities, as well as 'MacGillivray', 'MacIlhaney', 'MacGillie', 'McComish', 'McGillow', 'McElhinney' and 'McGillen'.
Overall, the surname McElhone has several variants, many of which are either found in Ireland or Scotland, and share the same ancestor.
Famous people with the name McElhone
- Natascha McElhone: British actress, best-known for her roles in films such as Ronin and The Truman Show, as well as several TV series including Californication and Designated Survivor.
- Donal McElhone: Former professional Football player for Finchley and Tottenham Hotspur.
- Sally McElhone: Radio broadcaster and former journalist.
- Ted McElhone: Irish actor and former amateur boxer.
- Maeve McElhone: Professional golfer from Ireland.
- Martin McElhone: Singer, songwriter and former frontman of the 80s band Hothouse Flowers.
- Mortimer McElhone: Notable Canadian legal expert and well-known philanthropist.
- Mary McElhone: Psychoanalyst, author and former critic at Harper's Magazine.
- Bernie McElhone: Former professional basketball player for the Toronto Huskies and New York Knicks.
- Thomas McElhone: Irish Republican and poet, supporter of the Irish Civil War.