Surname MacGilvernock - Meaning and Origin
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MacGilvernock: What does the surname MacGilvernock mean?
The last name MacGilvernock is an ancient Scottish surname from the Strathclyde-Brythonic region in south-west Scotland, which is now known as Argyll and Bute. In Gaelic, 'Mac' means 'son of', and 'Gilvernock' is a patronymic form of the personal name 'Goirm' or 'Gilmor', similar to the Irish names 'Gormly' and 'Gormley'. The original meaning of the name is uncertain, but it could mean 'son of the great devotee of Mary', implying a pious association with the Virgin Mary or 'son of the servant of the Virgin Mary', alluding to an ancestor who had pledged service to her. Thus, MacGilvernock could indicate someone from a long lineage of aid to the church and religious devotion.
The most famous bearer of the name is probably Sir John Campbell MacGilvernock, a 15th-century Scottish knight who served with distinction in several important battles during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He and his son, Robert, were heavily involved in the defense of Stirling Castle in 1314 and were later among the first to swear fealty to Robert the Bruce after Scotland gained its independence. The MacGilvernock name has since become famously associated with loyalty to the Scottish cause and has a strong symbolic significance within the country.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGilvernock: Where does the name MacGilvernock come from?
The last name MacGilvernock is likely to be found most commonly in Scotland and Ireland today. ScotlandsDNA, a surname DNA testing service, reports that the surname MacGilvernock is associated with a branch of the MacDonald family who lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland centuries ago. The website ScotlandsPeople lists numerous families with the last name MacGilvernock, located mostly in Scotland.
Research by MacGilvernock family historians has revealed that many of the origins of the last name can be traced back to 1282 when Gilabertus, son of Gillemichel MacGillevorich, was a witness at a court of law in Scotland. After the 1600s, the name began to spread across other parts of Scotland as well as Ireland. Records of individuals with the last name MacGilvernock show that many left Scotland to establish new families in Canada and the United States.
It is clear from available records that the surname MacGilvernock is still common today in Scotland and Ireland, as well as other regions of North America, where many of the original families have since settled.
Variations of the surname MacGilvernock
The variant spellings of MacGilvernock are MacGlovernock, McGivernock, and McGivernoch. This is a Scottish surname that originally derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Bhreatanaich, which itself is translated to son of the follower of St Brendan.
The spelling Mcgivernock is most commonly associated with the Clan MacGillivray, a Highland Clan from Lochaber, Scotland, who are thought to descend from a son of Gillebhrath, the progenitor of the name.
The spelling McGivernoch is also found and can be linked to the Clan MacGillivray. It is generally attributed to the early spelling of MacGillivray which was changed to McGivernoch, particularly during the 19th century when Gaelic surnames were Anglicised.
The surname MacGilvernock is sometimes corrupted to McGilvernuch, Mcilvernuch, Mbilvernuk and many other variations.
Variant spellings MacGilvernock/MacGlovernock, McGivernock and McGivernoch are essentially the same surname, but were simply Anglicised at different times in history. Historically they were all part of the same Logan clan and are all derived from the root name 'Gillebhrath'.
Famous people with the name MacGilvernock
- Ryan McGilvernock: Professional Ice Hockey Player for the Anaheim Ducks
- David McGilvernock: Actor best known for his roles in the Netflix series Dead to Me
- Andi McGilvernock: Actor, Writer and Podcast Host best known for the web series Rage Quit
- Wendy McGilvernock: Actor and Comedian best known for her role in the television series Reno 911
- Jimmy McGilvernock: Astronomer and Science Educator best known for his work in astrophotography
- Tricia McGilvernock: Emmy-winning Producer and Director, best known for her work on the Netflix series The Crown
- Alex McGilvernock: Professional Football Player for the Oakland Raiders
- Elizabeth McGilvernock: One of the first female Financial Advisors in the United States
- Shawna McGilvernock: World-renowned Jazz Singer and Pianist
- Charles McGilvernock: Actor and Director whose works are featured on National Geographic and the Sci-Fi Channel