Surname Macgildowney - Meaning and Origin

Macgildowney: What does the surname Macgildowney mean?

The surname Macgildowney is of Irish origin, formed from the Gaelic elements 'Mac Giolla' and 'Dhomhnaigh'. 'Mac' translates to 'son of', 'Giolla' means 'devotee' or 'follower', and 'Dhomhnaigh' refers to 'of the Lord' or 'Sunday'. Hence, the whole name can be loosely interpreted as 'son of the servant of the Lord' or 'son of Sunday's servant'. It was a common practice in Gaelic culture to form surnames by prefixing 'Mac' or 'O' to the names of saints or religious figures whom the bearer was devoted to, in this case, the person who serves on Sunday, possibly indicating religious or priestly lineage. The surname underwent various spellings based on phonetic translations when written in English, so it may be found as Macgildowney, Macgildownie, and other variants. Like other Irish surnames, it links individuals to their ancestors, offering a sense of identity and family history. As most of these occupational or patronymic surnames date back to medieval times or earlier, their precise meanings are often subject to interpretation based on socio-linguistic changes.

Macgildowney: Where does the name Macgildowney come from?

The last name Macgildowney is of Irish origin. It is believed to be a product of the anglicisation of the Gaelic name, Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, which means ‘Son of the servant of the Church’. The name signifies a connection to the Christian church, specifically indicating service to the church.

The surname is not common today and is considered to be a rare name. However, it is just like many Irish names which are more prevalent in countries where Irish people have emigrated, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, rather than Ireland itself. It is essential to note that the exact prevalence and distribution of the surname Macgildowney in the world today are challenging to determine because it is so rare.

Despite this, the popularity or presence of the name in these countries is not evenly distributed and could be more concentrated in specific regions or communities due to chain migration patterns, where earlier immigrants help later arrivals from the same homeland to migrate and settle.

Variations of the surname Macgildowney

The surname Macgildowney originates from Scotland and Ireland. It's believed that this surname may come from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Domhnaigh, which translates to "son of the servant of the church."

Other variants or spellings of Macgildowney might include McGildowney, McGildoney, McGildonney, McGildunney, and MacGilldowney. Some variants may simplify the beginning of the name to Mc instead of Mac. The end of the name may have various spellings including -downey, -doney, -donney, and -dunney.

There might also be other variants of the name that remove the ‘g’ after ‘Mc’, leading to names like McIldowney, McIldoney, and McIldonney. Sometimes, the ‘Mc’ or 'Mac' part of the name might be dropped completely, resulting in surnames like Gildowney, Gildoney or Gildunney.

The surname has undergone various changes throughout centuries and across geographical locations due to differences in local dialects and linguistic shifts, resulting in many slightly different spellings and variations. This means that although these surnames may appear different, they may share the same roots and meanings.

Famous people with the name Macgildowney

• Dara MacGildowney: An Irish actor, writer, and comedian known for her work on Irish television shows including Bridget & Eamon and The Sunday Game.
• Michael MacGildowney: A former member of the Irish parliament and aviation minister, appointed by Charles J. Haughey, who was then Taoiseach (Prime Minister).
• Stephen McGildowney: An Irish actor and musician who has appeared in shows such as Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy.
• Max McGildowney: An American actor known for his roles in the films The Blind Side and Savages.
• Nikola McGildowney: The daughter of Serbian-born Yugoslavian singer Novi Fosili and a member of the Irish boyband Westlife.
• Eimear McGildowney: An Irish-born Olympic sailor who has competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic games.
• Roger MacGildowney– A Scottish-born journalist who worked for Fleet Street newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph and The Scotsman, serving as Scotland output editor for the former.
• Finley MacGildowney: A former Scots-Irish radio announcer who is best known for his career (which lasted over sixty years) as a continuity announcer and newsreader for BBC Northern Ireland.
• Peter MacGildowney: An Irish-born businessman and political operator often referred to as the “kingmaker” due to his role in the Republican party during the Troubles.

Other surnames

Macgildownie