Surname MacIlveen - Meaning and Origin
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MacIlveen: What does the surname MacIlveen mean?
The last name MacIlveen is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Bhuídain, meaning “son of the devotee of (St.) Buídain.” St. Buídain was a hermit monk in the early 8th century, known for his prophetic powers and teachings. MacIlveen is now primarily found in the County of Tyrone, Ireland, and shared by several notable families of the same name.
One branch of the MacIlveens are known as the O’Mealy family from Polmuine, near the town of Strabane, County Tyrone. This family can trace its heritage to the late medieval period and are part of a network of Irish kinship.
A branch of the MacIlveens called the MacIlveens of Drumglass, settled in County Derg, Tyrone, in 1466. They were landowners in the northern part of the county and remained so until the 17th century, when James MacIlveen, the 4th Earl of Strabane, was dispossessed of the clan’s leading household due to his support of James II in the Williamite wars.
Throughout history, the MacIlveens have combined some of the traditional Irish qualities of intelligence, eloquence, and hospitality with a strong sense of loyalty. Today, many of the MacIlveens continue to live in the area near Strabane, maintaining strong ties with their Irish heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIlveen: Where does the name MacIlveen come from?
The last name MacIlveen is most commonly found in Ireland and Scotland today. In Ireland, it is especially associated with County Donegal and people bearing the name can also be found in Antrim, Derry, and Tyrone.
In Scotland, MacIlveens are most often found in the Outer Hebrides, especially on Lewis and Uist. Though the name is most closely associated with Scotland and Ireland, there are MacIlveens scattered all across the British Isles.
The surname is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhuire, which means "son of the servant of Mary". The usage likely stems from the devotion of early families of this name to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In North America, MacIlveens can be found in Canada, mainly in Ontario and Alberta, and the United States, predominantly in Massachusetts and Mississippi.
Though most often pronounced as Mak-El-veen, some families pronounce it MACK-kel-veen. Records of immigrants with the surname MacIlveen date back to 1820 in the United States.
So, if you're trying to trace your MacIlveen heritage, the best places to start would be the Outer Hebrides, County Donegal, and Massachusetts. However, remember to search across the British Isles and North America as the name can be found almost everywhere.
Variations of the surname MacIlveen
The surname MacIlveen is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Mhuire, meaning ‘son of the devotee of Mary’. The modern Irish form of the name is Mac Giolla Mhuire, which is pronounced the same as MacIlveen. In Scotland the anglicized form of the name is usually spelled MacIlven, while in Northern Ireland it is commonly found as MacIlvin.
In Ireland, the surname can also be found spelled as MacGillivray, McGillevery, and MacGillvary. In Scotland, it is commonly spelled as MacGilleveen, MacIlvin, and MacIlven. In England, the best-known variant of the name is McKillop.
Other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Gilleveen, Kilvinnie, MacLiven, McIlven, McGillveray, McGillvery, McIlvaney, McSheevy, and Sheevey.
The MacIlveen surname is found mostly in Scotland and Ireland, and is most common in County Antrim, County Donegal, County Fermanagh, and County Tyrone. It is also common in the United States, where some branches of the family emigrated, such as the McGilleverys from Armagh in about 1800 and the MacGilvrays from Rothesay, Scotland, around 1900.
Famous people with the name MacIlveen
- George MacIlveen: George MacIlveen has had a long career as an actor, director, and producer in film and televisionspanning over 30 years.
- Bill MacIlveen: Bill MacIlveen is a New York based singer-songwriter, who has released multiple full-length albums and has received critical acclaim from a variety of media outlets.
- Nevin MacIlveen: Nevin MacIlveen is an Irish-born Canadian author and editor, most known for his work in alternative comics and science fiction.
- Donald MacIlveen: Donald MacIlveen is a Scottish footballer who currently plays for Scottish Championship team Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
- Norma MacIlveen: Norma MacIlveen is an Irish actress, singer, and dramatist. She has appeared in films such as 'The Libertine', 'A Love Song for Bobby Long', and 'Affliction'.
- William A MacIlveen: William A MacIlveen is an United States Air Force brigadier general known for his role in leading the USAF Expeditionary Contracting Squadron located at Aviano Air Base.
- Jack MacIlveen: Jack MacIlveen is an English blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He has released several albums to critical acclaim, and has toured around the world with his own music as well as supporting other artists.
- Robert MacIlveen: Robert McIlveen is a Scottish footballer who currently plays for East Fife Football Club in Scotland's League One.
- Josiah MacIlveen: Josiah MacIlveen is a Canadian actor and voice artist most known for his work in the animated series 'Backyardigans', and the Stop Motion series 'Angry Birds Go!' along with numerous voice work for both television shows and video games.
- Simon MacIlveen: Simon MacIlveen is a Scottish professional cricketer who plays for Edinburgh-based side, Grange CC in Scotland's Premier Division.