Surname McIlhaggo - Meaning and Origin
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McIlhaggo: What does the surname McIlhaggo mean?
The surname McIlhaggo is of Scottish origin and is an Anglicized rendition of the Gaelic “MacGill-Eathagain” which roughly translates to “son of the servant of the stranger.” It is believed to come from the Norman name “Gillag” which would have been brought to Scotland by Norman adventurers. The surname is found in several variations, such as MacElhagga, McElhagga, McIlhagga, McGillhagga, and even Gillhagga, among others.
The primary concentration of the surname today is in County Donegal, Northern Ireland, where it is found in both Gaeltacht and anglicised parts of the county. It is derived from the Irish MacGilleathaigh, meaning ‘son of the servant of the stranger’.
Given the Norman occupation and presence in the area, it is likely that the surname came from a Norman name. The “stranger” referred to in the surname could mean a person of foreign origin, such as a Norman or Viking. It may also be a reference to the fact that the bearer of the surname was both a servant to a foreign person and foreign himself.
The surname is relatively uncommon and is not found in any major public records. However, if you go into the more remote areas of Donegal, you may find it in records dating back several centuries. It is an important reminder of the mix of Scottish, Viking, and Norman influences that have helped shape the culture of this part of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcIlhaggo: Where does the name McIlhaggo come from?
The McIlhaggo surname is most commonly found in Scotland today. It originated in the 13th century with clan MacGillEathain, which was located in the Isle of Islay. The MacGillEathain clan changed their name to McIlhaggo in the 17th century. After the Clearance Act in 1837, many McIlhaggos, as well as other Gaelic speaking clans, were forced out of their land and migrated primarily to the North and South Americas, Australia, and New Zealand.
The population of McIlhaggos in Scotland today is relatively small, though it is larger in areas such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Inverness-shire which have historically had a noteworthy Gaelic-speaking population. As of the 2011 census, there were 200 people in Scotland with the surname McIlhaggo, and in 2018 there were an estimated 260 individuals with the surname.
The McIlhaggo surname can also be found in countries outside Scotland as a result of the family’s past migrations. In the United States, there are currently fewer MacIlhaggo's than was reported in the 2000 US Census, where an estimated 1,683 individuals bore the surname. McIlhaggo's can also be found in Australia, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and other countries across the globe, though the exact number is unknown.
The McIlhaggo surname continues to remain rooted in the Scottish culture, though it is no longer associated with a specific clan. To this day, many McIlhaggo’s continue to celebrate their family heritage and history.
Variations of the surname McIlhaggo
The surname McIlhaggo is actually an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surname Mac Gille Hagha. It derives from the phrase ‘mac gille hagha’ which translates to son of the servant of the young Eochaidh.
Other variants of this surname include Mac Gille Hagha, McGillehagg, McGilhagga, McGilhaggo, MacGillehag, MacGillehagg, MacGillehagga, MacGillehaggo, MacIlvag, MacIlvagg, MacIlvagga, MacIlvaggo, McIlhagg, McIlvag, McIlvagg, McIlvagga, McIlvaggo, McLhagi, McLhaggi, McLhaggy, McLhaggye, McLhaggyee, McLhaghi, McLhaggie, McLhaggye, and McLhagy.
It is also seen in various spellings, such as: Mac Gilhag, Mac Gilla Hagha, Mac Gillhag, Mac Gullhag, Mack Gilhag, Mack Gilla Hagha, Mack Gillhag, and Mack Gullhag.
There are also various surnames of the same origin, such as Kilhaug, Kilhaugg, Killhaug, MacGiollapadraig, MacGiollapatrick, MacHugh, MacKilhaugg, MacKilhaughe, MacUgh, and Ugg. These variations might have arisen due to local dialects, translations, and various spellings of the original Gaelic Irish name.
Famous people with the name McIlhaggo
- Rebecca McIlhagga: British businesswoman, entrepreneur and charity campaigner.
- Shon McIlhagga: American actor.
- Ged McIlhagga: Retired Irish professional footballer.
- Joseph McIlhagga- British sports broadcaster and journalist.
- William McIlhagga: American poet.
- Ross McIlhagga: Scottish comedian and actor.
- Ewan McIlhagga: Scottish comedian.
- Mark McIlhagga: European basketball player.
- Scott McIlhagga: British-born former professional road racing cyclist.
- Shonagh McIlhagga: Dance artist, choreographer, and lecturer from Northern Ireland.