Surname McGilvery - Meaning and Origin
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McGilvery: What does the surname McGilvery mean?
The surname McGilvery is of Scottish origin and is Anglicized from the Gaelic Mac Gille Mhoire, which translates to the son of the devotee of Mary. It is thought to have first originated in the Scottish Highlands. The suffix of the name, 'very' is derived from the Old French word ‘veri’ meaning, true, or genuine. Therefore, the full meaning of the surname ‘McGilvery’ is ‘son of the genuine devotee of Mary’.
Traditionally, the McGilvery surname was associated with members of the Church of Scotland, however, many members of the clan traveled to the United States and Canada during the 19th century. Today, it is a relatively uncommon surname, found mainly in the United States, Scotland, Canada, and Australia.
The McGilvery surname has frequently been noted in Clan histories and literature. It has also given rise to many variants in the spelling, including MacGilvery, McGilvery, MacGilwery, MacGilvary, and MacGillvery.
The McGilvery name has remained a proud symbol of Scotland’s Celtic heritage. It is a reminder of Scotland’s traditional past when many families embraced a strong religious faith and strived to live in harmony with both their religious beliefs and the wider community.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGilvery: Where does the name McGilvery come from?
The surname McGilvery is predominantly found in Ireland, with the majority of its population found in the province of Ulster. According to the Irish surname registry, McGilvery is an Ulster-Scottish variant form of the ancient Gaelic name Mac Gille Mhoire which translates to “son of the servant of Mary”.
McGilvery can also be found in Scotland and England, with a smaller population in the United States. It is likely that the name migrated to the United States in the 19th century when a large number of people left their homeland for the promise of a better life abroad.
Today, McGilvery is still found primarily in Ireland, with the counties of Antrim and Londonderry having the highest concentrations. In Antrim, the town of Cloughmills appears to be the area with the most of this surname. In Scotland, there is a small population of McGilvery in the area of Aberdeenshire and Fife. In England, the counties with the highest concentrations of McGilvery are Lancashire and Westmorland.
In the United States, McGilvery is a relatively uncommon name, with most of the population found in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It is believed that people with this surname travelled to the United States in the 18th century, settling in the states mentioned.
To conclude, McGilvery is most commonly found today in Ireland, Scotland, and England, with a small population in the United States. It is likely the name was brought to the United States by immigrants looking for a better life in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname McGilvery
The surname McGilvery is an Irish family name that is derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Giolla Iver", which translates to "son of the devotee of St. Iver". It is quite common to find a variety of spellings and variants of this Irish family name, such as: McIlvary, MacIlvary, MacGillevery, MacIlvery, MacGilleivry, MacGillevery, MacGillivery, Magillevery, Macgillewerry, MacIlverie, and MacGillivry.
In many cases, the ending of the name is modified when it is anglicized. Some examples of this modification are as follows: McGilvary, McGilvery, McGilvray, McGilvry, McIlvery, McIlvray, McIlvry, Magibliography, Macilvary, and Macilvery.
When it comes to the spelling variations, there is not much variation in the spelling of the name. However, there are other surnames that come from a similar Gaelic origin, such as MacGillivray, MacGilliwray, MacGillivanry, MacGillovraidh, and MacGillvelry.
In Scotland, the MacGillevery family were part of a powerful sept of the same name, and their original homeland was in the district of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. The sept of McGillevery can also be found in the Boylagh and Banagh parishes of Co. Donegal in Ireland. The McGilleverys were known as Cineál Fearmainn, which was the family name of the Clan MacGillevery.
Ultimately, the surname McGilvery has a strong Irish heritage and many different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name McGilvery
- Victor McGilvery: He is an American actor best known for his roles in films such as Captain Phillips, Sleepers, and the Three Musketeers.
- Andrew McGilvery: Andrew is an Australian actor and producer who has appeared in many television programs, including Wonderland, House Husbands, and Offspring.
- Eileen McGilvery: Eileen is a Canadian radio personality, talk show host, and journalist. Her career spans more than forty years, and she is best known for her time at CJAD 800 in Montreal as well as for her current show, The Drive with Eileen.
- Neil McGilvery: Neil is a British-American songwriter, producer, and musician. He has worked with various artists and has his own record label, Glorious Music. He is perhaps most known for being part of the duo Curran & McGilvery.
- Carly McGilvery: Carly is a Canadian model and actress. She has appeared in numerous films such as The Fantasy Factory, CockSurfer, and The Big Year.
- David McGilvery: David is a Scottish-born professional golfer. He has been a member of the European Tour and the PGA Tour.
- Stephen McGilvery: Stephen is an Irish journalist and writer best known for his work at The Irish Times and The Guardian.
- Tom McGilvery: Tom is an American photographer and artist. His work has been exhibited in various galleries and his photographs have been published in various print and online publications.