Surname McGonnigil - Meaning and Origin
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McGonnigil: What does the surname McGonnigil mean?
The surname McGonnigil is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic "Mag Congail", which is composed of elements "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Congail" meaning "fierce as a wolf". It was a personal name that became a surname. However, it is important to note that this surname has evolved into various forms over centuries due to differences in regional dialects, phonetic spellings, and Anglicization. It can be found in different forms such as MacGonigle, McGonigle, and most famously, McGonagall, like the character Minerva McGonagall in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. As with many surnames, it's likely the original bearers of the McGonnigil name were descendants of a man named Congail who was known for his fierce or brave nature.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGonnigil: Where does the name McGonnigil come from?
The surname McGonnigil has Scottish origins, specifically derived from the Gaelic clans of Scotland. Its etymology is closely associated with the MacConghail clan, where "Mac" means son and "Conghail" signifies brave or fierce.
However, it is essential to note that the spelling "McGonnigil" is quite rare, and its variations are more common such as McGonigle, McGonagle, or even McGonigal. These alternate forms have been traced back to the region of Inishowen in County Donegal, Ireland where it crossed over from Scotland during the plantation era.
Today, the surname and its variants are predominantly found in areas with a long history of Scottish or Irish settlements. It is particularly common in countries like Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and parts of Canada. Despite its wide distribution, the exact spelling of "McGonnigil" remains uncommon.
Variations of the surname McGonnigil
The surname McGonnigil is of Irish origin that most likely originated from the Gaelic name Mag Congail. This surname has various spelling variants including McGonigle, Mcgonagle, Mcgonigle, McGonagle, McGonnel, McGonnell, and McGonnagle. Each variant shares the same meaning, which is believed to be "son of Congal" with Congal meaning "strong as a wolf." These surnames are particularly associated with County Donegal in Ireland. It’s also important to note that the spelling may change over time or when families migrated to English-speaking countries such as the United States or Australia, altering the surname to better fit the phonetic spelling or pronunciation in those countries. Therefore, versions like Mcgonigil, Mcgonagill, or simply Gonigle might also exist. Lastly, one of the most common misspellings of this surname is McGonagall, primarily due to its association with the character Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series, which is actually a variant of a Scottish surname rather than an Irish one.
Famous people with the name McGonnigil
- Rose McGonigal: Rose is an American game designer, author, and public speaker. She is best known for her work on alternate reality games anduddyhe study of the positive effects of video game play.
- Eileen McGonigal: Eileen is an American playwright, director, acting coach, and professor. She has written over 50 plays and has taught acting at Rutgers University.
- Niall McGonigal: Niall is an English football defender who currently plays for Hayes & Yeading United F.C. He was previously a member of medical team at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
- Paul McGonigal: Paul is an American television director best known for his work on the sitcoms 'Friends' and 'Will & Grace'. He has directed over 100 episodes of television.
- Caroline McGonigal: Caroline is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is best known for her 2006 album 'Beautiful Lies'.
- Sean McGonigal: Sean is an American stock trader and entrepreneur. He is the founder of McGonigal Capital, a private investor stoct firm.
- Siobhan McGonigal: Siobhan is an Irish actress most famous for her role as 'Roscoe McGee' in the comedy series 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'.