Surname MacKelvie - Meaning and Origin
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MacKelvie: What does the surname MacKelvie mean?
The surname MacKelvie is a name of Scottish origin, which derives from a location called MacGillebhaigh. This place was named after a Gaelic personal name Mac Gillebhaigh, and likely referred to a follower of St.Bhaigh. This surname emerged in the mid 13th century when people began to adopt hereditary surnames as permanent family names. The surname MacKelvie is spelled differently in various old documents and can vary from MacGillebhaigh, MacKelvie, and MacJelvie. It is also the Anglicised version of the original Gaelic name Mac Gille Bhaigh. This name is sometimes composed of two elements, ‘gille’, meaning ‘servant’, and ‘Bhaigh’, a name of St Baigh.
The name MacKelvie is often associated with Clan Cunningham and the surname is thought to have spread to other parts of Scotland through the Cunninghams. The Cunningham name is associated with the MacGillebhaigh family through two young brothers from the MacGillebhaigh family who accompanied a Cunningham chief to Scotland in 1229 when Robert the Bruce granted him the lands of Cunninghame. Although there is limited records of the history of the name MacKelvie, descendants of this family can be found all across Scotland today. The meaning of the MacKelvie name is one of adventures and devotion, stemming from their travels with the Cunninghams centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKelvie: Where does the name MacKelvie come from?
The last name MacKelvie is most commonly found in Scotland and in countries with ancestral ties to Scotland, like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Scotland, the surname MacKelvie is primarily found in Ayrshire and the surrounding areas of Dumfries and Galloway. It is a Scottish lowland name, which means that it was derived from regions below the Scottish highlands.
In the United States, people bearing the MacKelvie name are mostly concentrated in the New England region, but there is still a significant presence of the surname in states such as California and Colorado, as well as the Rust Belt states of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.
In Canada, the surname MacKelvie is mainly concentrated in Ontario and theatlantic provinces.
In Australia, the MacKelvie surname is mainly concentrated in New South Wales and Tasmania.
In New Zealand, the MacKelvie name can be found in Auckland and other major cities such as Christchurch, Wellington, and Dunedin.
Though the distribution of the MacKelvie name is scattered around the world, its presence is still significant enough to make it a recognizable surname. To those who carry the name, it serves as a reminder of their ancestors' proud Scottish heritage.
Variations of the surname MacKelvie
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacKelvie, span over a range of Scottish, Irish and Welsh spelling formats. MacKelvie is sometimes spelt as MacKelvey, MacKelvie, McKelvey, MacKelvey, M’Kelvie, M’Kelvey, Mewkelvey, Mewklevey, M’Kelvie, M’Kilvie, M’Killey, MacKilley, McKilley, McKilvey, McKelvie, McKilvie, M’Kilvie, MacKilvie and MacLelvie.
The MacKelvie use the prefix ‘Mc’ as an alternative to ‘mac’ denoting the name to originate from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Mochig.
MacKelvie originated in Scotland as a regional nickname (clan or family name) and is believed to have been first found in Ayrshire, situated on the southwestern coast of the country. The earliest records of MacKelvie are from lands of Castlemaddie in Ayrshire, Scotland, dating back to the year 1386.
The surname MacKelvie is derived from the old Gaelic given name "Mac Giolla Mochig", which translates to "son of the devotee of St. Mochig". "Mochig" was an ancient Irish saint venerated in Scotland. This is an indication of the close ties between Scotland and Ireland during the middle ages. The prefix ‘Mac’ which is an Irish and Scottish dynasty has been adopted for this name, which means ‘son of’.
As a result of the diaspora effect, the surname MacKelvie can be found today in a number of countries around the world, including Australia, the USA, Canada and many other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name MacKelvie
- Bianca MacKelvie: Canadian TV Host, known for creating and hosting the 'So You Think You Can Makeup' podcast.
- Curtis MacKelvie: Former college and professional ice hockey player for The Boston Bruins, known for his fearless and entertaining playing style.
- Emma MacKelvie: British actress, most famous for her role as 'Grace' in the hit TV show 'The Inbetweeners'.
- Kate MacKelvie: Canadian fashion designer, best known for her contemporary and eclectic fashion line.
- Ryan MacKelvie: American professional golfer, competing in the PGA Tour and earning numerous championships during his career.
- Scott MacKelvie: English comedian, renowned for his hilarious take on current affairs and his comedic alter-ego 'Snoork', who performs all over the UK.
- Wayne MacKelvie: Canadian actor, mostly known for his roles in both television and film, often taking on outlandish characters.
- Lawrence MacKelvie: British sculptor, whose bronze statues of well-known figures can be found in some of Britain's most prestigious exhibitions.
- Alex MacKelvie: Scottish actor, best known for his roles in 'Outlander' and 'The Crown'.
- Darian MacKelvie: New Zealand model and influencer, popular online for her daring, edgy fashion looks.