Surname MacIlhenny - Meaning and Origin

MacIlhenny: What does the surname MacIlhenny mean?

The last name MacIlhenny is an ancient Scottish surname that originated in the Highlands region of Scotland. It derives from the Gaelic Mac an t-Sealgair, which translates to "The Son Of The Hunter". The MacIlhennys were a well-known and powerful clan, holding a seat in Inverness-shire and the Isle of Skye. The clan's colors were blue and purple.

The surname has been used in many variations, such as MacIlhenney, MacIlhenny, MacLhenny, and McIlhenney. It is believed that these variations were used interchangeably at different points in history. The variations include McEwen, McKeon, MacKeown, Macilie and many more.

The MacIlhenny clan was among the most defended and powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Chief lived in the castle of Boisdale, and was known to protect their people fiercely. The MacIlhenny clan often stood with the Stewarts of Scotland during battles as part of the House of MacDonald.

The modern MacIlhennys can trace their lineage back to Scotland, where the great hunter of the same name resided. The present-day MacIlhennys are scattered around the world, with many settling in America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Throughout history, MacIlhenny has been a powerful and respected surname, and it now stands as a testament to a proud Scottish heritage.

MacIlhenny: Where does the name MacIlhenny come from?

The MacIlhenny surname is found throughout the world, but is most commonly associated with North America and Scotland. The MacIlhenny family can be traced back to the time of the ancient Celts, known as the Scotic, where the name originated from Scotland.

The surname is still widely found in Scotland, with a few families still residing in Aberdeenshire and some of the other areas where the family name originates from. There are also clusters of MacIlhenny families located in England, Ireland, France, and Australia.

In North America, the MacIlhenny surname is most commonly found in Canada, where records show a significant concentration of the family name in West Scotland prior to emigration. The United States is also home to many descendants of the original MacIlhenny family. Records show that many of the original settlers were from Scotland, often travelling to Pennsylvania and Virginia first and then settling in other states throughout the years.

Though not numerous, the MacIlhenny surname can also be found in Mexico, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Iceland, and even the Philippines. Today, the MacIlhenny family is as diverse and widespread as ever - providing a unique link between countries and cultures.

Variations of the surname MacIlhenny

MacIlhenny is a common Irish surname, derived from the Irish name Mac Giolla Eoin which is derived from the personal name Eoin meaning John. Variants of the surname MacIlhenny include MacEllhenny, MacElhenny and MacGillonny. Spellings of the name include MacIlhenney, MacLhenny, MacElhenny, MacEllhenny, McGillonny, McIlhenny, McLhenny, McElhenny, McEllhenny and McGillonny.

Surnames with a similar origin as MacIlhenny include MacCullen, MacKernan, MacLochlainn, MacKinney, MacKinnon, Mac spewman, MacKune, MacNally, MacQuillan, MacQuillen and MacWhinney. Of these names, MacQuillen, MacWhelan, MacAfee and MacWhinney are the closest names found in Ireland today.

These various forms of the same surname are a testament to the natural evolution of language which happens with time and in different geographical locations. Having different spellings and variants can also be attributed to the variation in Irish dialects and accents in the different parts of the country. Furthermore, the name MacIlhenny could have been changed by the immigrants who left Ireland and Ireland's many English occupiers and colonialists throughout the centuries, contributing to the evolution of the name.

Famous people with the name MacIlhenny

• Tabasco sauce creator Edmund McIlhenny
• Actor Stephen McIlhenny
• Uber executive Meghan McIlhenny
• Retired Major League Baseball player Jason McIlhenny
• Dallas Cowboys RB coach Gary McIlhenny
• Youtuber/ Musician Jake McIlhenny
• UPS executive Pat McIlhenny
• Director/Producer Ryan McIlhenny
• Actor/Director Thomas McIlhenny
• Politician/Lawyer Scott McIlhenny

Other surnames

MacIlheron