Surname MacGilvary - Meaning and Origin
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MacGilvary: What does the surname MacGilvary mean?
The last name MacGilvary is derived from an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Giolla Bhuí. This translates to “son of the devotee of St. Bhuí”. St. Bhuí was a sixth century missionary who is the patron saint of Tory Island.
The MacGilvary surname itself evolved in several parts of Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland, it became a clan name with many different spellings such as MacGillivray, MacJilvray, Mac Gilvary and Gwillivray. In Ireland, the name represented a sept of Clan McDonell of Antrim.
In both Scotland and Ireland, the surname is associated with a long line of warriors. This is evident in the translation of the name, which is devoted to a saint who may have been part of a military expedition. As a clan name, the MacGilvary descendants have a strong sense of pride in their heritage and some have even achieved high status within their communities.
Today, MacGilvary is found as a surname around the world, with people tracing their heritage found on almost every continent. This is due to its history of intermarriage and the traveling of different clans over the centuries. Those who carry the surname may still have a connection to their ancestral roots and the legacy of their clan.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGilvary: Where does the name MacGilvary come from?
The last name MacGilvary is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. According to records, the early history of the MacGilvary family can be traced back to a Scottish Clan, located in Scotland’s rugged Highlands. During this time, members of the clan settled spread across Scotland and various parts of England.
In England, the MacGilvary surname is largely associated with areas in the South of England, such as Dorset, Somerset, and Cornwall. Meanwhile, Scotland’s Argyll & Bute region is also famously home to quite a large population of the surname.
In modern times, the MacGilvary name has spread across the world - largely thanks to the rise of the British Empire in colonial times. As a lot of Scots and Irish of the name emigrated to English-speaking countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States, the MacGilvary name can now be found in a variety of locations around the world.
So, although the UK and Ireland remain the most common locations for the MacGilvary name, there are a fair number of people of the name across the globe.
Variations of the surname MacGilvary
The surname MacGilvary has several variants and spellings, including MacGillivary, MacGillvray, MacGillvery, MacGillvra, MacGillvrae, and MacGillivra. All of these variants and spellings are derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Mhàiri, which means "son of Mary's servant". Other variant spellings include MacGillivray, MacGillevery, MacGillevra, and MacGillevrae.
The surname is also sometimes found spelled as Gillivray, Gillvary, Gillvray, Gillvery, Gillvra, and Gillvrae. Other variations include Gilvary, Gilvray, Gilvery, Gilvra, and Gilvrae.
The surname is also found with a variety of prefixes, such as Mac, MacAngus, MacGill, MacGregor, MacLeod, and Mc. Some common variants of the MacGilvary surname include MacAngelo, MacCallivary, MacVary, MacGrath, McAuliffe, MacCrory, and MacKevary.
The surname may also be encountered as an Anglicized version of the Irish surname "Mac Giolla Mhuire" meaning "son of the follower of Mary". Common Anglicized versions of this surname include Gilleveray, Gillamtary, Galbreth, Gillabraith, Gibbally, Gildormy, and Gillibrist.
In Scotland, the surname is often found in the Northern and Highland regions. It is also found in some parts of Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name MacGilvary
- Gilda MacGilvary: Gilda MacGilvary is a historian and author who specializes in early medieval and early modern Scotland and has written extensively on the topic.
- Peter MacGilvary: Peter MacGilvary is a famous American artist and sculptor. His works are displayed in galleries around the world.
- Vince MacGilvary: Vince MacGilvary is an award-winning Australian actor, best known for his performances in films and television series such as Blue Heelers, Sea Patrol, and Romper Stomper.
- John MacGilvary: John MacGilvary is a fiddler who has released several albums and appeared on numerous radio programs.
- Gordon MacGilvary: Gordon MacGilvary is a Canadian sports broadcaster, having been the radio voice of the Montreal Expos from 1977 to 1983.
- Kenneth D. MacGilvary: Kenneth D. MacGilvary is a successful American lawyer and the founder of MacGilvary Law Firm in Portland, Oregon.
- Robert MacGilvary: Robert MacGilvary is a professor of anthropology at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.
- Iain MacGilvary: Iain MacGilvary is a Scottish rugby union player who plays for the Edinburgh club.
- Jean MacGilvary: Jean MacGilvary is a Canadian Olympic athlete and cyclist who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
- William MacGilvary: William MacGilvary is a Canadian engineer and inventor. He was the recipient of numerous awards for his work in advancing the use of wind power and solar energy.