Surname MacIldoon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacIldoon: What does the surname MacIldoon mean?
The last name MacIldoon is of Scottish origin, and can be traced back to the MacAld "Son of Ald" roots. The "Mac" prefix was used in Scotland to denote a person who is the son of another person. Therefore, MacIldoon means 'son of Ald'.
The origin of the name Ald is the Old Norse personal name Aldi, which comes from the Old English Aethel or Adel meaning "noble". This indicates that those who originally carried the MacIldoon name were likely descendants of those of noble birth or descent.
The MacIldoon family likely originated from the Argyll region of Scotland, though the name is likely to be found concentrated around the highlands. Nowadays, people with the MacIldoon name can be found mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Those who carry the MacIldoon name are part of a proud, noble lineage with a long history in Scotland. The name was once synonymous with aristocracy and loyalty, and while these times have passed, the MacIldoon family continues to represent these qualities by living a life of honour, dignity and respect.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIldoon: Where does the name MacIldoon come from?
The last name MacIldoon is most commonly found today in Scotland. It is thought to originate in the western isles, in an area known as Uist in southwest Scotland. It is an anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Dhomhnaill, which translates to "son of the servant of Donald." In Scotland, some of the earliest records of MacIldoon families show up in the mid-1700s in the Soldier's Lists of military personnel in the 1700s.
Today, the name MacIldoon can still be found in areas of Scotland with strong ties to its early history, but may also be found across Europe, Australia and the United States. In the United States, the name can be found concentrated in some of the original settling areas of Scots, such as New England, North Carolina, Virginia and several states in the Midwest.
In addition, there is also a community of descendants who live in the Falkland Islands, which were formerly inhabited by early Scots. There is a town there called 'MacIldoon.' It is unknown if these individuals are directly related to the original families who immigrated from Scotland.
The modern spelling of this name ranges from MacIldoon, McIldoon and Mac Eldoon, among other renderings. No matter the spelling, all of these families can be traced back to origin families living in Scotland in the 1700s and early 1800s.
Variations of the surname MacIldoon
The surname MacIldoon has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames with similar origins. The primary spelling of the name is MacIldoon, however, it is often seen as MacEldoon, M'Eldoun, MacEldown, McEldown, MacEldun, McEldon, MacEldoon, McEldoon, MacIldoun/MacGildoon, MacIldown/Mackilldown, MacKildoon and MacKildun.
MacIldoon is a Scottish surname derived from the personal name "Gil Dúin." This Gaelic name translates to mean "servant of the brown one," with ‘brown one’ likely referring to a tribal leader in ancient times.
In addition to the various spellings of the clan name, there are some related names—both in Scotland and in Ireland—which also are derived from the personal name. Some of the names include McDoon, M'Gildown, M'Dune, McDougald, McDowe, MacLaodha, MacLane, MacDilone, MacDiullan, MacDiollaigh, MacUillinn, and MacEldon.
The associated clan of MacIldoon originates in County Donegal, Ireland and the clan had both a lowland and highland origin before later branching out into other Scottish regions and countries. The name may have come about as a result of many families moving from Scotland to Ireland in the 16th century during the plantation of Ulster.
While the name's roots trace back to Scotland and Ireland, many variants of the name have been documented in other parts of the world due to colonisation, especially in the United States of America and Canada. In recent years, many families have anglicised their surnames, resulting in a less authentic version of MacIldoon but still the same lineage.
Famous people with the name MacIldoon
- James MacIldoon: Scottish explorer, actor, author, and speaker
- Allan MacIldoon: Canadian politician and former Member of Parliament
- Peigi MacIldoon: Scottish TV show presenter
- Wendy MacIldoon: Australian singer and actress
- Robert MacIldoon: Canadian author
- Allan MacIldoon: Canadian Olympic rower
- Bill MacIldoon: Canadian NHL hockey player
- Cameron MacIldoon: Canadian Olympian in rowing
- Gregory MacIldoon: Scottish professional golfer
- Ian MacIldoon: Scottish professional golfer