Surname MacKilcawley - Meaning and Origin
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MacKilcawley: What does the surname MacKilcawley mean?
The last name MacKilcawley is an Irish surname derived from the ancient Irish Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Chaill". The meaning of this name is 'son of the devotee of (St.) Caoll'. This name is found primarily in the Irish counties of Connacht, and its most notable historical bearer is Turlough's son, Toirdàileach Mac Giolla Chaill, who reigned from 1276-1280.
The name has several variations and other spellings, including MacKilcawly, Mac Kilcawly, MacKilcauly, Makilcawly, and Makilcouly. This doesn't necessarily mean that those within the family are related, but it's possible.
The MacKilcawley surname is thought to be a derived from the Irish Gaelic language. It is believed that the name arrived in Ireland with the Anglo-Normans who invaded 1169-1171. At the time, English and Latin were the bulk of the languages spoken in Ireland, so the Gaelic language was described as ‘barbaric’.
The MacKilcawley surname is still found in the Irish counties of Connacht today, though it is also found in small numbers across the rest of Ireland and in parts of Scotland, England, Australia, the USA, and Canada.
The MacKilcawley surname is now a global surname, with minor variations scattered across the world. Its Gaelic origin means ‘son of the devotee of (St.) Caoll’, a reminder of its long history and origin from Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilcawley: Where does the name MacKilcawley come from?
The surname MacKilcawley is most commonly found in Northwest Ireland, concentrated mainly in the Connacht region. This includes counties such as Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal. In addition, there are records of the MacKilcawley name in Scotland, particularly in the Isles.
The MacKilcawley surname is believed to derive from the Irish Mac an Choileach, meaning "son of the forest". As such, the family is believed to have originated from the area of Donegal, which would later be known as Tir Chonaill. Along with other families from the area, the MacKilcawleys traveled to Scotland during the McLaughlin Clan wars, and can be found in records from as early as the 13th century.
In modern times, the MacKilcawley name is still found mainly in the Connacht region. The core area of source being Donegal, which still holds the majority of the population that has borne this name throughout the centuries. The name is also commonly found in other parts of Ireland, such as Sligo,Longford, and Leitrim. In Northern Ireland, the name is much less common, although it can still be found in records of families from the region. Many descendants of the MacKilcawley family have since emigrated to other parts of the world, with the now globalized surname found in places such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Variations of the surname MacKilcawley
The surname MacKilcawley is of Irish origin and is a form of the Gaelic surname ‘Mac Giolla Chomhaill’, which has a slightly different spelling depending on the region and language. The surname MacKilcawley comes from the Irish words ‘Mac’, meaning ‘son of’, and ‘gilca’, meaning ‘vehemence’.
Common variants of the surname across the English-speaking world include MacCawley, MacKilcawley, MacKillcawley, Kilcawley, Killcawley, MacIlcawley and MacGillcawley. There may also be variations within a single family such as MacCawly, MacCooley and MacCowley.
Some more unusual versions of the surname have been recorded in the Irish Civil Records, such as the source name Mackelcowley. In other parts of Europe, the name might be found as MacKilleecoely, MacKillelleoly, McKillikiley, and McKillilokely.
The Mac Kilcawley name is particularly popular in Ireland, Scotland and the United States. In the United States, other variants such as MacGillcawley may be found.
Different forms of the MacKilcawley surname may have also been adopted due to the cultural shifts of the 19th century as Irish people migrated in search of a better life. Alternate surnames such as MacCawley, Kilcawley and Killcawley may have been adopted in different countries by those wishing to anglicise their name.
Despite the many variations, the main derivation of the MacKilcawley surname has remained unchanged since its first recording in 1179 in County Galway, Ireland.
Famous people with the name MacKilcawley
- Harry MacKilcawley: an actor who has appeared in television shows such as Frasier, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and The X-Files.
- William MacKilcawley: a musician and songwriter who has released several albums and singles.
- Joe MacKilcawley: a journalist and author, best known for his book about Gerry Adams and the Irish Peace Process.
- Jack MacKilcawley: a rugby player who represented the USA National Rugby Team in the 1971 Rugby World Cup.
- Christine MacKilcawley: an architect and digital artist whose work has been showcased at numerous galleries and exhibitions.
- Charles MacKilcawley: a former professor of history at Princeton University and author of books on American history.
- Margaret MacKilcawley: a philanthropist and former US diplomat, known for her work on poverty and education across the world.
- John MacKilcawley: a retired dentist who served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.
- Terence MacKilcawley: an Emmy-nominated cinematographer who has worked on major motion picture projects.
- James MacKilcawley: a professional golfer and winner of several PGA events.