Surname Macilwraith - Meaning and Origin
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Macilwraith: What does the surname Macilwraith mean?
The surname Macilwraith is an anglicized version of the Scottish Gaelic surname MacGille Bhraith. The Mac prefixed to the front of name denotes ‘son of’, and MacGille Bhraith translates as ‘the son of the servant/follower of judgement.’ The elements of the surname each have an old Gaelic origin, Gille translates as ‘servant/follower’, and Bhraith translates as ‘judgement’.
The surname was first recorded in Scotland in around the 14th century and is specifically used in the county of Ayrshire with other families of the same name recorded as far north as Stirling. It is thought to be a branch of the larger Cammie Clan, which was composed of families who held similar lands in that part of Scotland.
The origin of the Macilwraith estate dates back to 1253 when it was granted to Gille Braide, a grandson of Allan MacGille Brath. This family name held the estate until around 1607 when it passed to another branch of the Macilwraiths.
In today’s culture, the surname Macilwraith is best known for its association with James Patrick Macilwraith Thane, a Scottish naturalist, mathematician, and astronomer. Born in 1800, he wrote extensively about his scientific discoveries as well as folk customs and beliefs of Scotland. After his death in 1867, the University of Training established the Macilwraith Memorial Prize in his honor.
The Macilwraith surname is an ancient and historic title the meaning of which speaks to the great sense of justice and judgement held by the original bearer of the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMacilwraith: Where does the name Macilwraith come from?
The last name Macilwraith is most common in Scotland. According to the Scottish Census Data of 1881, the name Macilwraith was mainly registered in the Scottish counties of Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.
The surname Macilwraith is very rare today, though there are still a few people with this name living in Scotland. In England, the last name Macilwraith is mainly found in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northumberland and some parts of South Yorkshire.
Outside of the UK, the last name Macilwraith is not particularly common. However, a search in the United States property records reveals that this surname is predominantly present in the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. There are also a few records in other countries, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The Macilwraith name originated in Scotland. The earliest known record of the family can be traced back to the fifteenth century when four brothers, Duncan, William, John and George, led a group of settlers from Scotland to Ireland, where the name Macilwraith first appeared in the records of the Irish Province of Ulster.
The Macilwraiths of Scotland are believed to be descended from a line of Pictish High Kings. The Macilwraith name is derived from Macillin (which means son of Mailin) and the Gaelic word ‘rias’ which means knight or leader. The family motto is 'Fortes Fortuna Iuvat' which translates to ‘Fortune Favours the Brave’, showing the strength and courage of the Macilwraith family.
Variations of the surname Macilwraith
Macilwraith is a variant spelling of a Scottish surname which is derived from the Old Gaelic name Mac-an-Lairthain, meaning "son of the ancestor's keeper." This name was commonly used as a patronymic surname, specifically a form of kinship common among Scottish Gaelic clans.
Variants of this name include MacGilwraith, MacInleare, MacInlure, Macilwray, MacLure, MacLwray, Macilwraitha, and MacIlwraith.
Notable bearers of the name are the Reverend Sir Kenneth Macilwraith, a former Moderator of the Church of Scotland; and Alan Macilwraith, a Scottish football player who played in the 1950s and 1960s.
Spellings of Macilwraith can be found in a variety of other languages including Spanish (Macgilwraith), French (Macilwray), and German (Maclwray).
Variations of this surname can be found in many parts of the Scottish Isles today, often under the Morris-MacIlwraith spelling. This spelling may have evolved over time as part of local phonetic differences.
Surnames, often formed after a person's given name, can be derived from a variety of sources. In the case of Macilwraith, a number of other possible surnames derived from the same source have been identified. These include Makilarey, MacGilwraith, Macilwraitha, MacInleare, MacinLure, and MacLure.
Famous people with the name Macilwraith
- Ross Macilwraith: a former Scottish rugby player
- Donald MacIlwraith: a former Scottish footballer
- Stuart MacIlwraith: a Canadian-born Northern Irish actor
- Guy MacIlwraith: an Australian rugby league player
- Ian Macilwraith: a Scottish actor
- David MacIlwraith: a Scottish former team handball player
- William MacIlwraith: a Scottish professional golfer
- Jamie Macilwraith: a former Scottish rugby league player
- Peter MacIlwraith: a Scottish professional footballer
- Robert MacIlwraith: a footballer from Hawaii
- Edward MacIlwraith: an Australian-born Scottish rugby player
- Kenneth MacIlwraith: a former Scottish footballer
- Carl Macilwraith: a Canadian comedian
- Ken MacIlwraith: a former Scottish footballer
- Neale MacIlwraith: the chief executive of the Royal Television service in Scotland