Surname MacIlwee - Meaning and Origin
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MacIlwee: What does the surname MacIlwee mean?
The surname MacIlwee is a Gaelic-Irish name derived from the word Mac an Ghabhann, which translates to “son of the smith” and is steeped in ancient Irish history. Variations of this surname include MacIlvey, MacIlveen, and MacElwee.
This surname indicates a family line of smiths, who specialised mainly in the metalwork art form. Smiths were highly respected in ancient Ireland, and some were even associated with druidic circles, who had a hand in the forge work of swords and jewelry.
The last name can be traced to an area of Northern Ireland known as County Antrim in the 1500s. During this period, the MacIlwee family would have been the prominent family in this area, and the name would have been a sign of strength and prosperity.
The MacIlwee name has spread across the world in the centuries since, with family ties appearing in Scotland, England, Ireland, and places as far away as Canada and the United States.
The impact of the smith in ancient Ireland is reflected in the enduring popularity of the MacIlwee surname today. It signifies strength, a linked family history across the globe, and the enduring achievements of the early Irish smiths who served their communities and established an art form that continues to fascinate and inspire today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIlwee: Where does the name MacIlwee come from?
The last name MacIlwee is most commonly found in North America. The name originated in what is now modern-day Scotland and is of Scottish-Gaelic origin, in which the Mac means "son of" and Ilwee likely derived from the Gaelic personal name Maolmhuire.
In modern times, there are about 1,100 people with the MacIlwee surname residing in the United States, with the majority of them living in the Southern states including Alabama and Mississippi. In Canada, the name is most common on Prince Edward Island.
The largest clusters of MacIlwee’s remain in Scotland, the Lowlands in particular, where the name was originally based. It is most commonly found in urban regions such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Due to Ireland's complex political history and enforced migrations, many MacIlwee families may have also adopted Irish names so it can be difficult to determine the origin of some families in Ireland today.
The name MacIlwee can be found in various historic records such as Cado Simulation, which provides a timeline of when MacIlwee’s first settled in the United States. Given the original Scottish origin of the name, MacIlwee’s occupying North America today are likely descended from the same ancestral line.
Variations of the surname MacIlwee
The surname MacIlwee is of Scottish origin and is both a patronymic and an anglicized name. It is based on the Gaelic “Mac Giolla Bhuidhe”, which translates to “son of the fair-haired lad”. The most common variants for this surname include MacElwee, McIlwee, MacElwie, MacElfie, MacKilwee, and MacIlvie.
The most commonly seen spelling, MacElwee, is the anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuidhe. It is believed that the “El” spelling was used as an alternative to the “Il”, which is common in the Gaelic language. The MacKilwee variation is sometimes seen and is occasionally considered to be an abbreviated form of MacIlwee.
When it comes to surnames of the same origin, the MacIlwee surname has a few. These include McAlwee, McElvie, McAlwie, MacElfie, MacGillivray, and MacIlvie.
McAlwee is a variant form of the surname McElwee and is generally seen throughout Scotland. McElvie is a variation of MacElwie, which was derived from the original Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuidhe. McAlwie is another variant form of McElwie, and it is also commonly seen in Scotland.
MacElfie is a derivation of the original MacIlwee and is believed to have originated in the region of Argyll. MacGillivray is a surname deriving from the Gaelic MacPhailbhrath, which itself is derived from the original MacIlwee. MacIlvie is a variant form of MacIlwee that is seen predominantly in Scotland.
Famous people with the name MacIlwee
- Wallis MacIlwee: American writer and exercise physiologist
- Robert MacIlwee: American politician
- Neil MacIlwee: American country singer
- Joseph MacIlwee: American electrical engineer and inventor
- James MacIlwee: Civil War Union Army soldier
- Kate MacIlwee: American spiritual director and BetterHelp therapist
- Sarah MacIlwee: American environmental scientist and daughter of Wallis Macilwee
- Larry MacIlwee: American professional drag racer
- Terrence MacIlwee: Irish poet and playwright
- Don MacIlwee: American magician