Surname Milroy - Meaning and Origin
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Milroy: What does the surname Milroy mean?
The surname Milroy is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic term "Maolruaidh," which means "devotee of St. Ruadhan." St. Ruadhan was a sixth-century Irish saint who founded a monastery in Lorrha, County Tipperary. The surname is believed to have originated from a clan in Wigtownshire located in southwest Scotland. The family were nobles under the Clan Fergusson during the Middle Ages. As with many surnames, over the centuries, it has seen different spellings, including Milrye, Mullroy, Mulroy, and Millroy. Today, the name is quite common in certain areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as being found in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to immigration and diaspora. It's worth noting that the meaning of surnames can vary slightly based on cultural and regional differences.
Order DNA origin analysisMilroy: Where does the name Milroy come from?
The last name Milroy is most commonly found today in the English-speaking world, especially the UK. It is particularly popular in Scotland, where it is the 332nd most popular surname, and in the US, where it is ranked 8,910th in popularity.
While the exact origin of the name is unknown, it is thought to derive from the family of de Milroy (or de Meylery). This noble Norman family is believed to have arrived in England during the 11th century with William the Conqueror. In Scotland, the clan's first known member was William de Meylery, who received lands from Robert Bruce.
The Milroy surname can also be found in Ireland, mainly in counties Down, Antrim, and Donegal. However, its prevalence in the Emerald Isle is much less than that in Scotland and the US.
Today, there are several variants of the Milroy surname including Millroy, Melroy, and Mallorie. With such a storied and wide-reaching presence, it's no surprise that the family is still going strong in the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Milroy
The surname Milroy is a locational surname, meaning it is derived from the place in Scotland where the original bearer of the surname once lived or held land. It is a common surname in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Milroy are as follows:
Variants: Milroi, Milreigh, Milraei, Milray, Milreigh, Milrey, Milroey.
Spellings: Milroi, Milreigh, Milraei, Milray, Milreigh, Millroy, Millroi, Millray, Milroey, Milroye, Milrowe, Milesroy, Mileroy.
Surnames: Miles, Mileroy, Mileroe, Mileacre, Milsat, Milsom, Milson, Milstone, Milward, Milwain, Mills, Mullray, Mullery, Mulroy, Mulrowe, Milsap, Milrow, and Mirrah.
The spelling of the surname Milroy can be changed for various reasons, though some are more common than others. Scribes, church clerks, and the general public may have added, removed, or substituted letters when recording the name. This can occur when transcribing handwritten records, or when the spelling was changed intentionally. Additionally, spelling errors can occur due to poor pronunciation or translation errors in foreign languages. Whatever the reason for the different spellings, all the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin must be taken into consideration when researching the surname Milroy.
Famous people with the name Milroy
- Bruce Milroy: a former Australian badminton player who was part of the country’s squad during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- John Milroy: a former Australian rules footballer and captain who played for the Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
- Joseph Milroy: a former British judge who was Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed and a member of the Privy Council.
- Sir Patrick Milroy: a British peer and scholar who was the first British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
- Sir Thomas Milroy: a British soldier and diplomat who served as Governor of Bombay from 1925 to 1930.
- Christine Milroy: a former professional tennis player from Australia who competed in the French Open and Wimbledon as well as several WTA tournaments.
- Frances Milroy: a British sculptor who is known for her work appearing in public gardens around the world.
- John Milroy Beckman: a Canadian politician who was the Member of Legislative Assembly for Ottawa-West from 1923 to 1927.
- William Milroy: a former Canadian politician who served as Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris.
- Angela Milroy: a British politician who served as Member of Parliament for East Lanture in Northamptonshire from 2001 to 2015.