Surname McElwee - Meaning and Origin

McElwee: What does the surname McElwee mean?

The surname McElwee is of Irish origin, and is a variation of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Bhuidhe, derived from the personal name 'giolla bhuidhe' meaning 'servant of the yellow/blond one'. McElwee is said to be a sept of the district of Tir Awley, which lies in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and was the home of the Clan Mackillop.

The name McElwee is a combination of the prefix 'Mac' (son of) with the Irish-Gaelic element 'giolla bhuidhe' which translates as 'servant of the yellow/blond one'. It is not known who the 'yellow/blond one' was, but it may have originally referred to a person who a clan leader named as important or a notable.

The name McElwee is found in a number of spellsings, including McElwee, McIlwee, MacElwee and McClewee. It is a rather rare or uncommon name; at the time of the great Irish migration of the 1800s, many people left Ireland to seek better opportunities in other parts of the world. Therefore, those who still bear the name McElwee have a proud link to the Irish diaspora.

Today, the surname McElwee is still quite uncommon, but can be found throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as in other parts of the world. Its bearer is a part of the larger Irish heritage, and those who still bear the name today have a unique and proud link to their Irish ancestry.

McElwee: Where does the name McElwee come from?

The last name McElwee occurs in countries throughout the world, though it is most commonly found in the United States. The 2000 United States Census lists the name as the 2,006th most common last name in the US. Additionally, it is a very common name in Ireland, showing up quite frequently among the top 100 surnames in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The name likely originates from an Irish Gaelic surname, Mac Giolla Bhuidhe, which translates as "son of the yellow-haired youth" or "son of the devoted one". The name was likely Gaelicized to McElwee - Mac Giolla Bhuidhe - as it became adopted across the globe.

Today, the name McElwee continues to be relatively widespread. In particular, it is commonly found in the United States, where over 6,000 individuals bear the name. The prevalence of the name is perhaps due to the sizable Irish population in the country, as McElwee is a common name among Irish descendants. It is also found in Ireland, England, Canada, and Australia - albeit to lesser extents - and is frequently located within the top 1000 surnames in the countries.

Variations of the surname McElwee

The surname McElwee is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Bhuidhe, also spelt MacGiollabhuidhe or MacGillivray, which translates literally as son of the yellow (or blond) one. Variations of McElwee can include Mac Clou or Mac Cloud, which is derived from similarly Gaelic languages, and also MacElwee, with shared spelling variations such as McElvey, McElwie, McElwee, McEllway, and also McClew.

In Scotland, the McElwee spelling has been recorded in print since as far back as the 12th century. Other spelling variants, including MacClou and MacElwie, were used in Scotland from the 18th century and onward.

In Ireland, the spelling of McElwee is usually encountered as Mac Giolla Bhuidhe. The Anglicised form of Mac Giolla Bhuidhe is Mac Elwee, with shared variations such as MacElwee and MacElwy, as well as McCarthy and McClew, and Gallagher and Galley.

In England, the spelling variations of MacClou and MacElwie can be found, and in the United States and Canada, the surname is often recorded as MacClou, MacElwee or MacElwie.

In Australia, many people with the McElwee surname are descendants of settlers who emigrated in the 17th century. Those emigrants may have used the surname variants Galley, McCarthy or McClew due to the difficulty of using Gaelic spellings.

The McElwees have long been a seafaring family, and many in the diaspora can trace their family roots to the Hebrides and west coast of Scotland. The surname McElwee can also be found in North America, Australia, and other places where Scots, Irish and English settlers migrated.

Famous people with the name McElwee

• Ross McElwee: an American documentary filmmaker.
• Daniel McElwee: a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
• Paul McElwee: a former professional baseball player in the Major Leagues.
• Walter McElwee: an American merchant and politician from Tennessee.
• Autumn McElwee: an American singer-songwriter and actress.
• Michael McElwee: an Australian former professional footballer.
• Kimberly McElwee: an American show jumper and Olympic gold medalist.
• Al McElwee: an American film editor.
• Pat McElwee: an American former professional baseball player.
• Nancy McElwee: American model and Miss USA 1937.

Other surnames

McElwainMcElwy