Surname McRunill - Meaning and Origin
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McRunill: What does the surname McRunill mean?
The surname McRunill is of Scottish and Irish origin. The name is believed to derived from the pre-10th century Gaelic surname Mac Raghnaill, which loosely translates to mean ‘son of Raghnall’. Raghnall itself is derived from the personal name Raghnall, a compound name composed of the Gaelic elements ‘rag’, meaning good or generous, and ‘val’, meaning rule.
The surname McRunill is believed to have first appeared in Scotland during the 1100’s, when Gaelic families began to migrate from Ireland to Scotland in search of better living conditions. The name is most prevalent in the Northern and Western Scottish areas of the country, and its numerous variants include Mceunill, McErnail, McErneill, MacRhonil and McRunnell.
The McRunill surname may also be derived from the Old Norse, McRonaldl or McDronold. This variant of McRunill is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands, most likely as a sept of the Death Clan of Norman origin which held lands in Ayrshire and Argyll.
Throughout its history, the McRunill family has played a significant role in the culture and development of the Scottish nation. Its members have contributed to politics, economic and social development, military influence, and religious leadership in the country. Today, the McRunill surname remains a proud symbol of Scottish heritage and history and is an important reminder of the family’s important contributions to Scotland’s culture and development.
Order DNA origin analysisMcRunill: Where does the name McRunill come from?
The last name McRunill is most common in Ireland and Scotland. A 2014 study has found that McRunill is the 138th most common surname in Scotland, with 2.3 people per 1000 having the last name. It is most commonly found in the counties of Ayr and Glasgow.
The McRunill name is derived from Gaelic names Mac Ruaidhrí and O Ruaidhrí, which both translate to 'son of Ruaidhrí'. Ruaidhrí was the name of two separate Irish kings who ruled in the 12th century. The name Mac Ruaidhrí is thought to have first been used by a family belonging to a branch of the Cenél Rónáin clan, and the family were based in Ayr, Scotland.
McRunill is also fairly common in Northern Ireland, with the families most likely being Scottish settlers who moved to Northern Ireland during colonization. In particular, it is found around the area of County Antrim, which was once home to many Scottish settlers.
Outside of Ireland and Scotland, the McRunill name can also be found in the United States. According to the 2018 US census, it is the 7,939th most common name, with just over 5,000 people having the last name, mostly in the states of New York, California and Florida.
Overall, McRunill is a fairly common name in parts of the British Isles, and is slowly increasing its presence in the United States.
Variations of the surname McRunill
The surname McRunill has various spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is found as MacRunill, MacRunnoil, McRunil, McC run Ell, MacRhonill, MacRhourill, MacRoonill, Mccrjunell, McCrunele, MacRuhnil, McCrunell, MacRonill, MacRumele, MacRomele, McRunell, MacRoomill, MacRomill, MacRonille, and MacRooneill.
MacRunill/McRunil is typically a Scottish surname, which is derived from the Gaelic ‘Mac Ruadhail’ or Mac Runail, meaning ‘son of Ruadhail’. Ruadhail was an ancient Gaelic word roughly translated as ‘red-haired one’. The Runill spelling has existed since the 16th century, with the modern variation of McRunil first appearing by the late 1700s.
The McRunill spelling of the surname is also found in Northern Ireland where it is mostly a Catholic derivation of the same Gaelic name. It came about in the mid to late 1700s, as emigrants from Scotland and Ulster began to use the Anglicised form of the name in an attempt to blend in with other refugees.
Many variations of the surname can also be found in America, with the spelling typically shortened to Runell or changed slightly to Runyon, and in Australia and New Zealand where some families adopted the MacRonill spelling.
The surname has a few other variations such as Cronill, single Runill, Curbel and Cummell. Each of these represents a modern spelling, often generated by people adding, omitting or changing letters when they are either personalising the moniker, or trying to make the spelling easier to pronounce.
Famous people with the name McRunill
- Gavin McRunill: Scottish professional golfer on the European Tour who was former world number 1 ranked amateur.
- Siobhan McRunill: Scottish singer and songwriter who is best known for her hit single "Crazy World".
- Ailsa McRunill: Scottish singer-songwriter and actor. She starred in the film adaptation of the musical "Annie".
- Peter McRunill: Scottish actor who appeared in several stage plays, and films such as "The Lost World" and "The Time Machine".
- Joe McRunill: Scottish actor best known for his roles in "The Brothers Grimm" and "The Green Mile".
- Caitlin McRunill: Scottish actress best known for her performance in the film "The Iron Lady".
- Lachlan McRunill: Scottish actor who is active in television and motion pictures, appearing in "Back to the Future II", "The Dark Knight Rises", and "Minority Report".
- Rose McRunill: Scottish actress best known for her recurring role in the popular BBC show "Doctor Who".
- James McRunill: Scottish actor and comedian best known for his stand up comedy specials "Joe McRunill's Big Show" and "The Bigger Show 2".
- Liam McRunill: Scottish actor who has appeared in a variety of British television shows and films such as "Emmerdale", "St Trinian's" and "Snow White and the Huntsman".