Surname MacIlemoyle - Meaning and Origin
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MacIlemoyle: What does the surname MacIlemoyle mean?
The last name MacIlemoyle is of Scottish origin and it derives from the Gaelic language. The name is a variation of the Scottish surname MacIlmoyle, which is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "MacGiollaMhaoil". In Gaelic, "Mac" means son of, "Giolla" means servant or devotee and "Mhaoil" means the tonsured one, bald, or the chief. Thus, the surname MacIlemoyle can be interpreted to mean "son of the servant of the chief". It may have originally been a patronymic name given to those serving a chieftain or a significant leader within a clan. In early times, it might have also referred to religious devotees who shaved their heads as a sign of their religious devotion. Today, like most surnames, it doesn't carry this specific connotation and is simply a family name. It is less common and predominantly found in Scotland and Ireland, particularly in the regions that had strong Gaelic influences.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIlemoyle: Where does the name MacIlemoyle come from?
The surname MacIlemoyle is of Scottish origin. The name reportedly has roots in the Scottish Highland clan system, although the clan with which it's associated isn't clearly specified.
Some suggest it might be derived from the Gaelic language where "Mac" traditionally means "son of" and it might be followed by a personal name or descriptor. However, the precise translation of "Ilemoyle" is not readily available or well-documented.
As for its modern prevalence, it is an extremely rare surname and not commonly seen in Scottish or global records. The individuals with this last name may exist in areas where Scottish people have emigrated over centuries, like North America, Australia, and New Zealand. However, due to its rarity, no substantial evidence is pointing to a particular region where the MacIlemoyle surname is common today. It should also be noted that spellings of surnames can change over time and cross-culturally, potentially making it more challenging to track the modern prevalence of surnames such as MacIlemoyle.
Variations of the surname MacIlemoyle
The surname MacIlemoyle is of Scottish origin and it is rare. However, it appears to have derived from Gaelic surnames. Understanding the spelling variations becomes necessary because old Scottish records contain names that were spelled phonetically, therefore, a single person could be recorded under several different spellings.
Possible variations and similar surnames could include MacIlmoyle, MacElmoyle, MacIlmoille, MacIlmeyle, MacElmoile, MacIlmoile, MacElmoyl, McIlemoyle, McIlmoyle, McElmoyle, or MacElmeyle.
These surnames possibly got their roots from the Gaelic surname "Mac Giolla Mhaoil," which was also anglicized as MacIlmoil, McIlmoil, McElmoil etc.
Please note, this information is based on possible phonetic variants and similar Gaelic roots. Not all of these spellings may be found in existing or historical records, as MacIlemoyle is an uncommon surname and its derivations might be even less common.
As records from the native country of the surname would provide the most accurate alternative spellings or origins, it is advised to consult Scottish genealogy experts or records for more details.
Famous people with the name MacIlemoyle
- Kristin MacIlemoyle: An actress known for The Invitation (2015), Sanity (2015) and The Go-Getters (2018).
- Chris MacIlemoyle: A retired professional ice hockey defenseman who last played for the Kalamazoo K-Wings in the 1999-2000 ECHL season.
- Grant MacIlemoyle: An Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League for the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
- Johnny MacIlemoyle: A professional wrestler part of the tag team “The Taliban”.
- Rob MacIlemoyle: A former professional golfer from Australia who finished third at the 1981 Canadian Open.
- Bill MacIlemoyle: An American professional boxer who had 19 fights between 1975 and 1981.
- Don MacIlemoyle: A former National Basketball Association player who played for the San Diego Rockets and the New Orleans Jazz.
- Emmett MacIlemoyle: A former NASCAR driver and member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
- Michael MacIlemoyle: An American musician from Los Angeles, best known for being the former bass player of the band “Stereo Phonics”.
- John MacIlemoyle: A former Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Chicago White Sox and the Oakland Athletics.