Surname MacElfrish - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacElfrish: What does the surname MacElfrish mean?
The last name MacElfrish is of Irish origin and means 'son of the Elf', derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhir Shithe. It is a meshing of 'Mac', meaning 'son of', and 'an Fhir Shithe', meaning 'the elf'. It is presumed to be a proud name referring to a great ancestor, the one with the strength, wisdom and presence of an elf.
The original bearer of the name was the great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, the ancestor of the O'Neill clan family of Ireland. He was a legendary Irish hero who established the kingdom of Meath, and later Connacht, in the north of Ireland.
The family name has been used in Ireland since at least the mid-seventeenth century and there are a few clans of MacElfrish still in existence today, mainly in the Rosscarnan area of Donegal and parts of Belfast. The name is also common in the United States, mostly because of Irish immigrants who settled there in the 19th century.
MacElfrish is an interesting and allusive Irish clan name with an intriguing history steeped in Irish mythology and folklore. Its original use as a proud last name is still the same today. It is one of many significant Irish surnames that continue to represent the people of Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMacElfrish: Where does the name MacElfrish come from?
The last name MacElfrish is most common in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern England. Records indicate that the MacElfrish family originated in Scotland and has existed there since at least the 15th century. By the 17th century, the name had spread to Northern Ireland, and then to other areas of England and the United States.
In modern day, MacElfrish is still a prevalent surname in various parts of the United Kingdom. In Scotland, it is most common in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire, and Inverness-shire. In Northern Ireland, it is most common in the counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh.
In the United States, MacElfrish is much less common than in the UK, but it can be found scattered in several states, mostly concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and California. As recently as 2006, the name was ranked 23,945th in popularity, showing that around 0.004% of US residents have the surname.
People with the last name MacElfrish tend to have ancestral ties to the countries, cultures, and regions previously mentioned. Today, there are many living MacElfrishes who identify with and celebrate their shared history.
Variations of the surname MacElfrish
The surname MacElfrish has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common spelling is MacElfrish, although other spelling variations include MacAlfrish, MacElfreesh, MacElfreece, MacElfresch, MacElphresch, MacIlphris, MacIlphrish, MacIlafrish, and MacAilfris.
The prints derived from this surname include Elfresh, Elphris, Elfish, all of which are variants of MacElfrish. Other surnames derived from MacElfrish are Macalfisch, Macalfishes, Macalfishers, Macfalris, Macfalrish, Mcalfersh, and Mcalfershes.
Because MacElfrish is an Irish surname, it has several ways it can be pronounced. A few of these pronunciations are mak-ELF-rish, mak-ALF-rish, and mak-EL-frish.
The origin of MacElfrish is not entirely known, but there are some claims that the surname was derived from the Old Irish MacHaílfirseach, which roughly translates to “Son of the Half King.” This origin of the name is reflected in other forms of the surname, such as MacHaílfirseach and MacHalfrish. The surname is also believed to be related to the Latin word alfers, which means ‘white’. This may explain why the surname is sometimes spelled with an ‘a’ instead of an ‘e’.
MacElfrish is an old surname, but one which is still carried by families throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the UK.
Famous people with the name MacElfrish
- Mark MacElvriss: British journalist and writer
- Tom MacElvriss: American actor
- Dave MacElvriss: American stand-up comic
- Lawrence MacElvriss: American actor
- Kim MacElvriss: Australian singer
- Patrick MacElvriss: British actor
- Mike MacElvriss: Irish broadcaster and radio presenter
- Bob MacElvriss: Canadian politician
- Anne MacElvriss: Canadian environmental activist
- John MacElvriss: American writer
- Sarah MacElvriss: Scottish artist
- Tim MacElvriss: English historian
- Steve MacElvriss: Australian film director
- Dan MacElvriss: American musician
- Seamus MacElvriss: Irish singer-songwriter
- Jonathan MacElvriss: New Zealand sports commentator
- Pete MacElvriss: Irish sports journalist
- Monica MacElvriss: Canadian dancer
- Joe MacElvriss: British chef
- Judith MacElvriss: American actress