Surname Guilfoyle - Meaning and Origin
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Guilfoyle: What does the surname Guilfoyle mean?
The last name Guilfoyle is derived from the Irish surname Mac an Guilfhoda. The Gaelic Mac an Guilfhoda translates to "son of the bald Galway man". This surname is believed to have originated in County Galway in Ireland.
Historically, the Guilfoyle family was part of a group of Gaelic Irish clans known as the Tribes of Galway. This group held significant land rights in the area, and were influential figures in the region. They were renowned for their bravery and loyalty, and shared an affluent lifestyle.
Today, the surname Guilfoyle is not so widely spread, but is still very much found in Ireland. It is estimated that around 2,000 people across the globe still bear this surname.
The meaning of the name Guilfoyle reflects a proud and strong heritage. It symbolizes loyalty, determination and a strong sense of identity. Those who carry this surname tend to have a close connection to their cultural roots. This is the legacy of the Guilfoyle name.
Order DNA origin analysisGuilfoyle: Where does the name Guilfoyle come from?
The last name Guilfoyle is mostly associated with Ireland. It is said to have originated in County Tipperary and is also known to be common in the Munster provinces of Cork and Kerry. The name Guilfoyle is sometimes found in County Louth and in the Connacht Province in Ireland.
Today, the surname Guilfoyle can be found around the world, in countries like the Unites States and Canada as well as Australia and New Zealand. It's estimated that over 11,000 individuals in the United States have the last name Guilfoyle. As has been the case for many immigrants, the Guilfoyle family amongst them, many families who left Ireland settled in major cities along the east coast, such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston.
In the United States, the surname Guilfoyle also appears in California, in and around Los Angeles and San Francisco. Other states with high Guilfoyle populations include Texas, Nevada, New Jersey, and Florida.
It also appears that the Guilfoyle surname is on the rise around the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, suggesting that more of the millions of people who trace their ancestry back to Ireland are now being recognized for their heritage. As a result, the Guilfoyles are now a little more spread out around the globe than ever before.
Variations of the surname Guilfoyle
The surnames Guilfoyle, Gilfoyle, Geilfoyle, and Gillfoyle are all related and originated from Ireland. They are also spelled in a variety of ways, such as Guilfoyl, Gilfoyl, Geilfoyl, and Gillfoyl.
The surname was originally created from the Old Irish pre 10th-century name "MacGiolla Phoil". It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "giolla" which means "attendant" and "phoil" which translates to skins. The combined literal translation of the name was interpreted to mean "a follower of St. Paul", and eventually became the surname.
The surname is often associated with Irish Catholic families, and up until the 1600’s, the name was only found in Ireland. By the 1700’s, the family had begun migrating to other parts of Britain, particularly England.
The name has been strongly associated with Limerick city and county, where the family had traditionally occupied the land of the Fiane Ecoils—“Dedicated to Saint Paul”. The original name has been modified over many years, resulting in the modern spellings of Guilfoyle, Gilfoyle, Geilfoyle, and Gillfoyle.
During the Great Potato Famine (1845 to 1852), many of those with the surname left Ireland in search of a better life, primarily in the USA. It is now one of the more common surnames in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Alternately, the surname is also used as an Anglicization of the Irish surnames MacGiollaphoil, MacGiollaphoil, McGillefoyle and MacGiolla Phoil, which are quite rare.
Famous people with the name Guilfoyle
- Dana Perino Guilfoyle: Former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, distributing press briefings across the United States and abroad.
- Kimberly Guilfoyle: Television host of The Five (Fox News Channel) and a former first lady of San Francisco.
- Gavin Newsom: Former mayor of San Francisco and current Governor of California, married to former first lady Kimberly Guilfoyle.
- Tony Guilfoyle: Irish hurler.
- Sean Guilfoyle: Professional rugby player in England.
- J.J. Guilfoyle: Professional heavyweight boxer.
- Ken Guilfoyle: Professional cricketer and coach from New Zealand.
- Michael Guilfoyle: Professional American football player.
- Robyn Guilfoyle: Professional Canadian basketball player.
- Tim Guilfoyle: Professional soccer player from the United States.