Surname MacGilladuff - Meaning and Origin
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MacGilladuff: What does the surname MacGilladuff mean?
The last name MacGilladuff is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Mac Giolla Dubh, meaning “son of the dark-haired youth”. MacGilladuff is one of the many variations found in the MacNaughton, McNutty, and MacKinnon surnames.
This is a surname associated with Clan MacNaughton, a clan that can be traced back to the year 1300 in Scotland. The clan is said to have descended from a man named Mor Muk MacDonald, the King of the Isles in the 12th century. The chief of the clan was the Baron of Reay, a title once held by the Earls of Sutherland.
MacGilladuff is typically found in the highlands of Scotland, particularly in the village of Eriboll. This is where many members of the clan are said to have originally settled. The Clan MacNaughton is also affiliated with the Clan MacDonalds.
The MacGilladuff surname represents a deep connection to Scotland’s rich historical past and suggests the bearer has a long lineage of proud and stalwart Scots. It signifies a strong bond to a family and culture, and pointedly to the land it comes from, a land steeped in its own special character and beauty.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGilladuff: Where does the name MacGilladuff come from?
The surname MacGilladuff can be traced back to ancient Scotland, and is most commonly found today in the Northwest Highlands and Islands region of Scotland. Although it is not one of the most common surnames in Scotland, it is still widely known. It is a sept of the Clan MacPhee, which is a clan in the Scottish Highlands.
The surname MacGilladuff can be traced back to the Gaelic language, and its origin has been said to come from the words MacGill or MacGille meaning 'son of a servant'. This likely refers to a common ancestor who was an adherent to a noble family, such as a trusted servant. Over time, the surname gained popularity as the family name and spread from its original location in Inverness-shire to other parts of Scotland.
In addition to Scotland, MacGilladuff is also found in some parts of Northern Ireland. This is especially true for Counties Antrim and Derry where it is still common today, as many people of Scots-Irish descent trace their ancestry back to Scotland.
Overall, the surname MacGilladuff is not one of the most common surnames in Scotland or Northern Ireland today, but it is still known and enjoyed by those who are proud of their heritage.
Variations of the surname MacGilladuff
MacGilladuff is an Irish surname of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Dhuibh, which translates to "son of the black/dark follower of Duibh (i.e. David)". This surname is sometimes spelled as MacGillduff, MacGilleduff, or MacGilladhubh.
Variants of this surname include MacGilduff, MacGilduff, MacGilliduff, and MacGilladuibh. Other spelling variants are MacGillduibh, or MacGill Dustin. Additional surnames from this origin include MacGelduff, MacGelduibh, MacGilduibh, and MacGillidouiph/MacGilldouiph.
Many families with this surname have separate branches from which other similarly sounding surnames have been created, such as MacGuillihadubh, MacGulligudh, MacGilligudy, McGilvadha, McGuildha, and MacGildhuidh. These surnames can be found in Scotland and Ireland, as some of the families who first adopted this surname later migrated to Scotland or other countries.
The Mac is prefix "son of" that is common to many Irish surnames, and may be dropped from the surname. Variations of the same base name could also occur, depending on the location and dialect of the country in which the family lived. Therefore, many variations and spellings of the name MacGilladuff exist, with some so far removed they appear to be entirely separate from the original.
Famous people with the name MacGilladuff
- Neil MacGilladuff: a Scottish footballer who played for several clubs in Scotland’s lower leagues in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Angus MacGilladuff: a Scottish actor, best known for his theater work in London's West End, as well as his roles in several popular films such as Goldeneye and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
- Kenneth MacGilladuff: a former professional Scottish footballer who played for Celtic and Dundee United in the 1960s and 1970s.
- William MacGilladuff: a Scottish politician, who served as the Member of Parliament for the Lanark constituency from 1997 until 2005.
- Alasdair MacGilladuff: a Scottish lawyer and dramatist, best known for his plays, including The Story O' The Great MacGilladuff and Runaway Heart.
- Samantha MacGilladuff: a Scottish sculptor, best known for her public monuments and statue designs, including the Glasgow Woman installation in the city of Glasgow.
- Lorna MacGilladuff: a prominent Scottish media personality and journalist, who currently sits as the editor-in-chief of the Herald newspaper.
- Craig MacGilladuff: a Scottish comedian, who famously performed several stand-up comedy shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
- Conor MacGilladuff: a Scottish rower, who represented the country in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Murray MacGilladuff: a former professional Scottish rugby player, who had a successful nine-year career playing for the Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby teams.