Surname McElvy - Meaning and Origin

McElvy: What does the surname McElvy mean?

The last name McElvy is an Irish surname. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuí, which translates to "son of the devotee of the yellow one", referring to the Christian saint Gwyon. Historically, the McElvy family originated in county Donegal in Northwest Ireland. The name likely arose from the time of the Norman invasion, during which many families adopted the Gaelic form of their patronym.

Today, the surname McElvy is associated with descendants of the McElvy family, although its use is not exclusive and it has been adopted by some people without familial connections. It is also common in other parts of the British Isles, particularly Scotland.

The McElvy surname is associated with a variety of different personalities. It is the name of an artist, a musician, a model, a military officer, and more. It is also the birth surname of entrepreneur, professional athlete, and philanthropist Hugh McElvy. Hugh has been praised for his philanthropy and has achieved many successes in his career.

In short, the last name McElvy is rooted in Irish origin and is associated with traditionally Gaelic-named families. It has come to signify a variety of personalities, from Megan McElvy, an artist, to Hugh McElvy, an inspiring entrepreneur.

McElvy: Where does the name McElvy come from?

The last name McElvy is particularly common today in Northern Ireland and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the name is especially common in Counties Londonderry, Antrim, and Down. Records of those with the last name McElvy can be found as far back as 1580 in County Antrim.

In the 1881 Census of England and Wales, McElvy was listed as one of the top surnames of Essex. While not as prevalent in England or Wales today, McElvy is still found in many areas of the United Kingdom.

The United States also has a population of McElvys, with a large presence in the Southern states. Records of McElvys in the United States date back to the late 1800s, when people with the name began to arrive in droves from Northern Ireland and Scotland.

In 2018, the McElvy surname ranked as the 27,875th most common last name in the United States, with an estimated 7,000 people living in the country with that title. McElvy is also found throughout Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname McElvy

The surname McElvy is an anglicized version of the Gaelic-Irish name Mac Giolla Fhaoláin, which means “son of the follower of St Faoláin”. The surname comes from a number of clans throughout the northern half of Ireland, such as the O’Gealghalain’s of County Donegal, and the Mac Giolla Fhaoláin’s of County Cavan. As an anglicized name, McElvy is extremely rare.

Other variants of the McElvy surname include Mac Giolla Fhaoláin, Mac Gilla Fhaoláin, Mac Gillafhaoláin, Mac Gilla Woullin, Mac Gollin, MacGiffen, Gellin, Giffin, Gillyon, and Gilfinn. Spelling variations are also common, particularly with the Gaelic spelling of the surname. Examples include MacGiollaFhaolain, MacGillafhaolain, and MacGillawoullin.

Common surnames that share the same origin as McElvy include Gilfillan, Gilfedder, Gilfeddar, Gellatly, Gilflin, Gifford, Gilchrist, and Giffen. These surnames are either derived from the same source as McElvy or are closely related.

The McElvy surname is extremely rare, with the exception of isolated individuals in Northern Ireland. Those with the surname likely have a common ancestor, making it a great starting point for uncovering family genealogy.

The variants, spellings, and related surnames provide many different options for someone researching their family tree using the McElvy surname. Taking into account the different forms of the surname, it is possible to track a history and story of the McElvy family that dates back hundreds of years.

Famous people with the name McElvy

• Mary McElvy: American professional tennis player and gold medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Jamie McElvy: American country music singer.
• Hayley McElvy: Canadian actress.
• Joseph McElvy: former mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee.
• Kathleen McElvy: American actress and producer.
• Dennis McElvy: American swimmer and bronze medalist at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
• Sarah McElvy: British poet and playwright.
• May McElvy: former Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
• Elly McElvy: American football player and NFL Hall of Fame inductee.
• Elias McElvy: American writer and children’s author.

Other surnames

McElveen