Surname MacIlhair - Meaning and Origin
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MacIlhair: What does the surname MacIlhair mean?
The last name MacIlhair is an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname Mac Ille Charraigh, which itself translates as "son of the devotee of (St) Charraigh."
St. Charraigh, or Carraig, was the patron saint of the MacIlhair clan, prominent in County Donegal, Ireland in the early Middle Ages. The saint is thought to have been born in the 6th century, and was a monk who established a monastery on a hill now known as Carraig Mór (Great Rock in Gaelic). The MacIlhair clan had their seat in the old chief's castle at Inishowen, Inis Eoghain.
The MacIlhair family were a powerful and influential clan, skilled in warfare and led by their leader, the Chieftain. They were a part of the Irish Fianna, an ancient military fraternity that defended Ireland against invading forces up until the 12th century.
The MacIlhair's were also known for their patronage of music and learning in those times. Irish poetry flourished within the clan and many of them were highly esteemed in the fields of literature and music. They had their own poets, one of whom, Séamus MacIlhair, is still well known today.
As for the meaning of the name MacIlhair, it is a reminder of the MacIlhair clan's past and the legend of St. Charraigh, a reminder of the dedication and piety of the MacIlhair family. It also serves as a symbol of the resilience of the Irish people, a reminder of their strength, valour, and deep-rooted culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIlhair: Where does the name MacIlhair come from?
The MacIlhair surname is most commonly found in the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland, where it has been present since the Middle Ages. The ancient clan MacIlhairs (or MacIlairs) were based in the counties of Ross-shire, Avondale, and Bute, and can trace their history back to 1263.
The name can be found most prominently in the small towns of Scotland such as Aviemore, Nairn, and Kiltarlity. Today, it is believed that there are about 2,000 people bearing the MacIlhair surname in Scotland, and many more all around the world who are descended from Scottish clans.
The surname has since spread to many parts of the world where people with Scottish roots have settled. Today, you can find MacIlhairs living in abundance in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Perhaps most notably, the most popular people with the surname MacIlhair today are the members of the band, the MacIlhairs. This is a five-man group from Scotland who have been producing bluegrass and folk music since 2008, and they’ve become quite popular in the music scene. Unfortunately their gigs have been few and far between due to the pandemic, but hopefully this band can bring the MacIlhair name back into public view.
Variations of the surname MacIlhair
MacIlhair is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic MacIlchair, meaning "son of the pouch". Some of the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include: McIlharg, MacIlhar, Malfar, MacIlharge, Malharge, MacHendrick, Malharg, McKendrick, MacHendrique, and MacKendric.
In Scotland, the MacIlharg clan was originally found in the western Highlands around the region of Perthshire and Fife. Today, the spelling variant of MacIlharg may still be commonly found in Scotland.
For Ireland, MacIlharg has been changed to Malharge or Malfar. There is evidence that the McFargs of the Scottish Borders also evolved from MacIlharg since the names of their land holdings dated from the Middle Ages.
McKendrick and MacKendric are derived from the original MacIlharg and are found in Scotland and Ireland. In America, McKendricks are found mainly in Pennsylvania and Virginia. These variants have also spread to Canada.
In the United States, the spelling variant of MacHendrick was not seen until the mid 19th century. MacHendrick is mostly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. This variant is probably derived from the English English McHenry or Henderson which were commonly adopted by Scottish immigrants during the late 18th-century.
The variant of MacHendrique is most likely derived from the Gaelic MacEanruig or Gilchrist. MacEanruig is found in Scotland and in America mainly in the states of Colorado, Pennsylvania and New York.
No matter the variation in spelling, all of these surnames are derived from and linked to the original Gaelic MacIlhair.
Famous people with the name MacIlhair
- Malcolm MacIldhui, Actor
- Angus MacIlhargey, Scottish Folk Singer
- Mary MacIlhenny, Author
- Angus MacIlheney, Musician
- Gary MacIlhiney, Military Historian
- Hugh MacIlhargey, Fleadh Cheoil Player
- John MacIlraith, Military Leader
- Moraig MacIlhargey, Highland Games Athlete
- Colin MacIlhargey, Scottish Piper
- John MacIlhair, Gaelic Poet
- Wedding MacIlhargey, Jouster
- William MacIlhargey, Singer-Songwriter
- Neil MacIlhargey, Gaelic Footballer
- Billy MacIlhargey, Ice Hockey Player
- Donal MacIlhargey-Smith Gaelic Footballer