Surname MacAnulla - Meaning and Origin

MacAnulla: What does the surname MacAnulla mean?

The Scottish surname MacAnulla is derived from the Gaelic term “Mac A’ Nolla”, meaning “son of the champion” or “son of the hero”. The surname is found predominantly in the Highlands of Scotland, where it has been associated with many distinguished families throughout the centuries.

The MacAnulla name originally was applied as a nickname to someone famous for military exploits or maybe renowned as a local chieftain. As such, the name would have done much to reflect the prestige he had earned in the community. It is likely that this reputation subsequently passed from father to son and thus became an established surname for a particular family.

The MacAnulla name is unique around the world, because it is never found in any other country or with any other spelling. This is due to the fact that it only exists in Scotland, the home of the Gaelic language and culture. However, some records of the surname have been found in England and France, suggesting that some bearers of the name may have travelled in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The MacAnulla name is still commonly found in parts of Scotland today, and some of the renowned Scottish clans that carry it include the Clan MacGregor, the Clan Gordon and the Clan MacIntyre. As such, this ancient and noble name can still be found in its traditional home today.

MacAnulla: Where does the name MacAnulla come from?

The surname MacAnulla is believed to be of Irish origin and first began to be used after the 12th century during the Norman invasion of Ireland. This name is derived from the Irish phrase "mac an Uallaigh," which translates to "son of the proud one."

Today, the MacAnulla surname is most common in the northwest and southeast of Ireland, particularly in counties Kerry, Cavan, and Fermanagh. It is still considered to be quite a rare surname, even in Ireland. According to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, it ranked 780th in popularity in terms of frequency in 2016.

Outside of Ireland, the surname MacAnulla is virtually unheard of. Canada, the United States, Australia, and other English-speaking countries have extremely low or non-existing populations with the surname. It is much more common in other European nations, however, such as Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

Overall, the surname MacAnulla is seen most frequently in Ireland today. It remains a rare and uncommon surname outside of the Emerald Isle with little to no bearing on the histories of any other countries or regions.

Variations of the surname MacAnulla

The surname MacAnulla is derived from the Irish 'Mac Conghalaigh' meaning 'son of Conghal'. The MacAnulla surname has several variants and spellings: Mac Connell, MacConnell, Mac Conall, MacConnell, McConallaigh, McConell, McConnagh, and McConnalli.

These variants of the MacAnulla surname often originate from the same source, as some of them have developed from different spellings of the same Irish surname. For example, Mac Connell has arisen from a combination of the prefix 'Mac', meaning 'son of' and the personal name Conall, meaning 'strong willed'. Similarly, McConnalli comes from a combination of 'Mc', meaning 'son of' and the personal name Conghal.

The spelling and pronunciation of Irish surnames often varied upon emigration to other countries. In Scotland, the spelling of the MacAnulla surname may have been anglicised to form the variants Maconnell and McConnell. Similarly, descendants of Irish immigrants to the United States may have adapted the surname to reflect standard American pronunciation, leading to variants such as McConnagh and McConall.

The MacAnulla surname is also found in some forms with the prefixes 'O' and 'Ua'. These variants both mean 'grandson of', and may have derived from Anglicisation of MacAnulla to Maconnell or McConnell in Scotland, which could later be combined with the 'O' or 'Ua' prefixes. Examples of these variants include O'Connell, Ua Conghalaigh, and Ua Conghaile.

In general, the variations of the MacAnulla surname are vast, and the precise origin of each variant depends on when and where the surname was anglicised. Therefore, it is important to consider the geographical origin and time period of ancestors when attempting to ascertain the original form of the MacAnulla name.

Famous people with the name MacAnulla

• Andy MacAnulla: a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Partick Thistle in the Scottish Championship.
• Robin MacAnulla: a Scottish rugby union player who has represented the Scotland national rugby sevens team.
• Seamus MacAnulla: a renowned Irish singer-songwriter, best known for his folk music.
• Siobhan MacAnulla: an Irish actress, best known for her role in the TV series Bridget & Eamon.
• Dara MacAnulla: an Irish journalist and author who has written for various publications including The Irish Times and The Sunday Business Post
• Katherine MacAnulla: a professional Irish dancer from County Donegal.
• Kevin MacAnulla: an Irish entrepreneur and the founder of the online business directory yourlocalireland.com.
• Rhys MacAnulla: an English-born Australian professional footballer currently signed to Club Valencia in the Football League Two.
• Brian MacAnulla: a former Irish professional footballer who represented Republic of Ireland at international level.
• Collin MacAnulla: a professional British bodybuilder and personal trainer from County Cork.

Other surnames

MacAnulty