Surname Mcgildonie - Meaning and Origin
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Mcgildonie: What does the surname Mcgildonie mean?
The last name Mcgildonie is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Dhuibhne. The prefix Mac means "son of", while the element Giolla stands as a personal name meaning “servant of”, "devotee of”, or “follower of”, and the ending, Dhuibhne, is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic Dubhain, meaning “black one”.
Combined, the name Mcgildonie, therefore roughly translates to “son of the follower of the dark-haired one”. It is a patronymic surname specific to the western coast of Scotland, and is believed to have descended from the same small group of individuals living in this area during the Dark Ages.
Historically, the areas of Lochaber, Skye, and Argyll were heavily populated by generations of a particular clan, who went on to become known as the Mcgildonie family. The Mcgildonie clan were a fiercely independent people, revered for their strength and courage that enabled them to survive in even the most difficult of times.
The Mcgildonie surname is still common today throughout Scotland and can even be found in other countries due to the spread of Scottish settlers throughout the centuries. Recently, researchers have studied the early origins of the Mcgildonie surname and have been able to trace its origins back to the eleventh century.
Order DNA origin analysisMcgildonie: Where does the name Mcgildonie come from?
The last name Mcgildonie is a Scottish surname which is mainly found in areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland. It may also be found in parts of England and Wales, particularly the northeast of England. It is thought to have originated in the small fishing village of Gildonie, located on the isle of Islay near the western coast of Scotland.
Today, the last name Mcgildonie is still prevalent in Scotland and can be found most frequently in the Lothian area such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen. It may also be found in Aberdeenshire and the Inverness-shire region. Here, Mcgildonie families have likely been descended from the original family clan that originated in Gildonie.
Mcgildonie has also spread over the centuries and is now prevalent overseas, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The United States now has the highest population of people with the Mcgildonie surname, accounting for more than 45% of the total global population. New York and California are thought to be the most popular states where it is found.
Overall, the surname Mcgildonie is relatively common around the world and is still found in many areas of Scotland as well as overseas. It is a reflection of the Scottish ancestry that has been passed down through generations.
Variations of the surname Mcgildonie
The variant spellings of the surname Mcgildonie are McGildonie and McGildowney. It is a possible anglicisation of the Irish surname McGildowney, which in turn is usually taken to be a derivative of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Domhnuigh, meaning "son of the devotee of St. Domhnuigh". It is also sometimes suggested that it may be a derivative of Mac Giolla Dhomhnuigh (son of the servant of St. Domhnuigh).
McGiildowney, MacGildowney, MacGildonie, MacGildownie and MacGilldoney have also been found as variant surnames. Mcgildonie and McGildowney are the more commonly found variations of the surname, but other variants are believed to exist.
The name is also found in Scotland, with MacGildonie and MacGildownie occasionally being found as alternative spellings. It is not usually associated with particular families or locations in Scotland, however, and is thought to be much more frequent in Scotland than it is in Ireland.
The surname Mcgildonie is also sometimes seen in the United States and Canada, having been carried there by Irish immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is not generally a well-known surname in those countries, however, and is rarely found in census or other records.
Famous people with the name Mcgildonie
- Niall McGildonie, Irish professional footballer
- John McGildonie, British Liberal Party MP from 1910 to 1918
- Andrew McGildonie, Scottish clergyman and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1951
- William McGildonie, British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross
- David McGildonie, British Army officer and World War I flying ace
- Roderick McGildonie, Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman
- Bernie McGildonie, Scottish professional footballer
- Thomas John McGildonie, Scottish mathematician and astronomer
- Mary McGildonie, Scottish publisher and campaigner for the welfare of working-class women
- The McGildonie Brothers, 19th-century lithographers