Surname MacErrigle - Meaning and Origin
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MacErrigle: What does the surname MacErrigle mean?
The last name MacErrigle is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eireagail, which means “son of the descendant of Ériagán”. Ériagán was a legendary figure, said to have lived in Ireland during the 10th century. According to one story, Ériagán was a descendant of the ancient kings of Ireland. Another legend says he was originally from Scotland.
The MacErrigles were one of the most powerful clans in Ulster in the 13th–16th centuries. They held important offices such as the Crown of Ireland, the Lord Justice of Ireland, and the Earl of Ulster. The MacErrigles were among the first to use surnames in Ireland and had a reputation of being great warriors.
The family had a strong influence in Ireland and, later, in Scotland. In 1601, the MacErrigles chose to side with Queen Elizabeth I during the Ulster Rebellion. As a result, several members of the family were arrested and executed.
The MacErrigle name is still found in Ireland today. It’s believed to have thousands of members around the world. The name signifies power, courage, and pride. Even today, these ideals remain strong in the MacErrigle family.
Order DNA origin analysisMacErrigle: Where does the name MacErrigle come from?
The last name MacErrigle is most commonly found in Ireland today. According to Forebears, the surname can be found in areas of County Cork and County Mayo with 0.009% of the population bearing the name. In addition to Ireland, the MacErrigle surname can also be found in small numbers in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Canada.
The MacErrigle surname has its origins in Irish Gaelic. It is derived from the Irish Mac Éireagail, which translates to "son of Éireagal". Éireagal is believed to be an ancient Irish family name, and the early forms of Mac Éireagail included Mag Erryck and MacErakil.
The MacErrigles were one of the "Tribes of Galway", a powerful Medieval Irish family of merchants and landowners who were based in the city of Galway during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Ancient records of the family date back as far as 1596 when a "James MacErrigle, of the County Mayo" is mentioned in an Inquisition. Documents recorded by the mid 17th century indicate that the family had spread wide across the country, with MacErrigles documented in Mayo, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Kerry by the 1650s.
Today, the MacErrigle surname is mostly found in Ireland with a small presence in the surrounding countries. Given the spread of the surname across different countries, it is likely that the MacErrigles' descendants are highly scattered around the world.
Variations of the surname MacErrigle
The surname MacErrigle is derived from the Irish name Mac Aircheallaigh which can be translated as “son of the follower of St. Errigle”. The name is most commonly found in the area of Ulster, specifically Donegal in Ireland.
Variations of the surname MacErrigle can be found throughout Scotland and Ireland. Some of the more common variants of MacErrigle are Mac Errail, Mac Errill, Mac Errlly, Mac Eril, Mac Erail, and MacErles.
There are other similar spellings such as MacAirlise, MacAuishle, MacEarlish, MacAirrle, Mac Auidhle, MacEarch, and MacAurle. Some of the variants found in Scotland are MacGairle, MacGairund, MacGairic, and MacKarled.
The common surnames found in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, that have the same origin as MacErrigle are Scarll, Scarrally, Scarrett, Scarlette, Scarlls, Scarly, Scarles, and Scarlette.
Other spellings which are believed to have the same origin as MacErrigle are Marchella and MacErrigly.
In conclusion, MacErrigle is derived from the Irish name Mac Aircheallaigh and there are a variety of different spellings and surnames which have a similar origin.
Famous people with the name MacErrigle
- Pádhraic MacErrigle: Irish folk singer-songwriter known for his unique brand of traditional Irish music.
- Arun MacErrigle: Irish area manager for Guinness and former world champion curler.
- Alice MacErrigle: Irish artist and designer and the founder of the Art in the Dark Studio in Dublin.
- Liam MacErrigle: Irish musician and former busker who has performed with the Celtic rock band, Escape from Tethra.
- Tomás MacErrigle: Irish musician and artist who is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band Heelside Reel.
- Denise MacErrigle: Irish vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who has released four solo albums and is a member of the Irish folk band The Returners.
- Aaron MacErrigle: Irish comedian who has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Latitude Festival.
- Julian MacErrigle: Irish disability advocate and motivational speaker.
- Sarah MacErrigle: Irish actress and singer who has performed in musical theatre in Dublin and London.
- Cáit MacErrigle: Irish writer and environmental activist, best known for her work in establishing the Dublin Fair Trade Coalition.