Surname MacElmurray - Meaning and Origin
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MacElmurray: What does the surname MacElmurray mean?
The surname MacElmurray is a Scottish name with Gaelic roots. It is derived from two ancient Gaelic words mac which means “son” and the personal name Elmaire. Elmaire is a combination of the words Eilm and eire, meaning “promise” and “God is an oath” respectively. Therefore, the name could be translated as “son of the promise of God”.
Originally, the name was associated with Scotland’s Pictish people. The MacElmurrays were a sept of the clan MacGregor in the Highlands. They lived in the district of the Lolach in the counties of Perthshire, Fife, and Stirling. The first recordings of this surname are found in the historical records of Scotland from the 1300s. It is believed that the original bearer of the name took the name in honor of the vows and promises of God.
Today, the surname MacElmurray can be found all over world, with a particularly strong presence in the United States. The name is thought to symbolize loyalty and trustworthiness, and many who carry it strive to live up to the good name of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisMacElmurray: Where does the name MacElmurray come from?
The last name MacElmurray is not particularly common today, but can be found in Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada, and the United States. In Scotland, MacElmurray is found the most in Moray, Inverness-shire, and Aberdeenshire. In England, those bearing the name are most numerous in Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, and Devon. In Ireland, the name MacElmurray is found predominantly in East Galway and County Waterford. Some Canadian provinces to have large populations of MacElmurray’s are British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
The United States is home to many MacElmurrays, although they are not common in any particular area. According to the Ancestry.com surname database from 2010, the states with the highest percentages of the name are California, South Dakota, Louisiana, Connecticut, and Virginia.
Overall, the name MacElmurray is more common in Scotland and Ireland, although there are significantly fewer individuals with the name than any other country. As of the 2010 census, the McElmurrays in the United States numbered only 1,085, a decrease from the 1,488 reported in 2000. In Canada, it was estimated that there were only 662 McElmurrays in 2016.
Variations of the surname MacElmurray
MacElmurray is a Scottish surname that has been borne by numerous generations of clansmen since clans first began to form in Scotland. The spelling of the surname is often modified depending on which branch of the larger family the person belongs to. Common variations include MacElmurray, MacElmurrey, MacElmurrie, McElmurray, McElmurrey, and McElmurrie.
The primary source of the MacElmurray surname is derived from the Scottish Gaelic words ‘Mac’ (meaning son) and either ‘Ellam’ or ‘Elm’ (meaning helmet) and ‘Righ’ (meaning King). The literal meaning of the surname is ‘son of King with a helmet’.
The family can trace its roots back to 1020 AD and the immediate predecessors of the MacElmurray informally used the surname of MacConnell. Over time, some members of the family adopted the more distinct name of MacElmurray.
The name may also have some ties to the Clan Elphinstone and the Clan Lamont. Some members of the Elphinstone family are documented as adopting the MacElmurray name during the 13th century.
As the members of the MacElmurray family grew over the course of many centuries and generations, the most common surnames related to the original name variations are MacElmurray, McElmurray, MacElmurrey, McElmurrey, MacElmurrie and McElmurrie. Less common variations include Lamont-MacElmurray, McConnal-MacElmurray and MacConnell-MacElmurray.
Famous people with the name MacElmurray
- Grant MacElmurray: Grant MacElmurray is a Canadian actor known for his starring role as Durham Red in the television series Durham Red.
- Vivian MacElmurray: Vivian MacElmurray is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Tia in the television series Schitt's Creek.
- Andrew MacElmurray: Andrew MacElmurray is a Scottish actor who has appeared in films such as Freaky Friday and The Godfather Part III.
- Michael MacElmurray: Michael MacElmurray is an American actor known for his roles in the films The Inner Life of Martin Frost and The Brave One.
- Scott MacElmurray: Scott MacElmurray is an American actor known for his roles in the films The Departed and Fight Club.
- Rhona MacElmurray: Rhona MacElmurray is a Scottish actress known for her role as Jean Brodie in the film adaptation of the novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
- David MacElmurray: David MacElmurray is an American film producer and director, and the creator of the television series The Naked Brothers Band.
- Robert MacElmurray: Robert MacElmurray is an American actor and director known for his roles in the films Big Trouble in Little China and The Terminator.
- Roberta MacElmurray: Roberta MacElmurray is an American actress known for her role as Irene in the television series The Big Bang Theory.
- Rob MacElmurray: Rob MacElmurray is an Australian actor known for his roles in the films The Water Diviner and The Light Between Oceans.