Surname McYlrea - Meaning and Origin

McYlrea: What does the surname McYlrea mean?

The last name McYlrea is a variation of the Scottish surname McIlroy. McYlrea likely originated in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland. It is thought to derive from the personal name of Gilroy, and the Gaelic prefix Mac, meaning “son of.”

The original form of the name was McIlroy, which is thought to be derived from the Irish Mac Giolla Ruadh, or in English, "son of the red-haired lad." This is believed to have been an ancient Christian name in Ireland, composed of two parts. The element gill- means "servant," while ruadh means "red," potentially referring to the color of the hair of the person who held the surname.

McYlrea is therefore a variation of the original McIlroy surname, and currently is most commonly found in Scotland. It is reported to be the 19th most common name in the country, with around 16,000 people in Scotland using the surname.

This surname has held great significance to many generations of bearers, and it is likely to remain an important part of their heritage for generations to come. The close family ties, as symbolized by the surname, are a reminder of how important family is to Scottish culture.

McYlrea: Where does the name McYlrea come from?

The last name McYlrea is most commonly found today in Ireland, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Though it is not a widely spread surname, the origins of the McYlrea name are thought to date back to the 11th century.

The McYlrea name is derived from the Gaelic language, and is thought to be a diminutive of Mac Giolla Riabhach, which translates to "the son of the gray-haired". This indicates that the ancestors of the first bearers of the name were likely to have come from the Ulster region of Ireland. The earliest records of the name are from the mid-17th century, when a John McYlrea is recorded in a list of heads of Ulster families.

McYlrea is still considered to be a common Irish family name, though it has decreased in popularity among the other more widely used surnames across the country. Today, those with the McYlrea name can be found mainly in areas of Northern Ireland, with the surrounding counties of Donegal, Monaghan, and Meath also having significant numbers. However, the Irish diaspora have spread the name far and wide throughout other parts of the world, with even small numbers of McYlrea families appearing in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and even further afield.

Variations of the surname McYlrea

The surname McYlrea has many variants and spellings due to its translations into different languages or its alteration over time. Commonly it is spelt as Mcylrea, McYlrea, McCylroy, McClery, M'Clure and Mclure. Many of these spellings will be seen in different countries and regions.

In Scots Gaelic, the name is spelt Mac Ghille Ríomhaire which means "son of the follower of Ríomhaire". In Irish, the name is spelt Mac Giolla Riabhaigh which again translates as “son of the follower of Riabhach” and in Manx Gaelic, the spelling is Mac ylrea, which means "son of the yeoman".

In some cases, the surname may be spelt as different surnames due to variations in spelling or difficulty in pronunciation. Examples of these alternate surnames names include MacClur, MacClure, MacLayrea, McClorey, MacLure, MacLeery, McShurey, McCrylee, McElroy, McElree, McYlra, McYlera, and McElory.

Other spellings used by the family over the last few centuries include MacClurey, McKlery, McCylra, McCleerry, McYlrae, McIllorie, McClyre, McCalrey, McIllre, McIllera and McClera.

Each of these spellings can be used to trace the different branches of the family and determine their migration route around the world, taking the McYlrea surname to many countries and regions.

Famous people with the name McYlrea

• Mackenzie McYlrea: Mackenzie McYlrea is a Canadian actor best known for playing the role of Rose Ryder in the Emmy-nominated drama series Wynonna Earp.
• Damon McYlrea: Damon McYlrea is an Australian actor who had a recurring role in the television series Neighbours and starred in the film The Black Balloon.
• Mel McYlrea: Mel McYlrea is an American jazz vocalist who has worked with some of the best in the jazz world, including Red Garland and Joe Henderson.
• Kendra McYlrea: Kendra McYlrea is an American actress, known for roles such as the horror anthology Catatonic in 2020.
• Brynn McYlrea: Brynn McYlrea is an American stage and screen actress who has been involved in several Broadway productions, Off-Broadway plays, and independent films.
• CJ McYlrea: CJ McYlrea is a British-born music producer and entrepreneur who specializes in producing beat-driven Reggaeton, Latin and Hip-Hop music.
• Shyla McYlrea: Shyla McYlrea is a Canadian television host, producer, and social activist who is best known for hosting the series Undercurrents on Global Television.
• Braden McYlrea: Braden McYlrea is a Canadian singer-songwriter who released his debut album 'Know What's Next' in 2020.
• Parker McYlrea: Parker McYlrea is an American football wide receiver who is currently signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad.
• Darren McYlrea: Darren McYlrea is a British artist and songwriter who has produced music in the form of Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul, and Reggae.

Other surnames

McYlreanMcYlroy