Surname MacKilgarriff - Meaning and Origin
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MacKilgarriff: What does the surname MacKilgarriff mean?
The last name MacKilgarriff is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic phrase ‘mac gille Gharbh’, meaning ‘son of the rough servant (or ‘handservant’)'. This surname is found throughout Ireland, particularly in the region of Cork, where it is most common. It is also found in some parts of Scotland, although it is not as common as it is in Ireland. It has been Anglicized to many variations, including MacKilgarriff, MacIlgarriff, MacGilligariff, and McGiligarri.
The origin of the name can be traced back to ancient Celtic times, when servants were known to wear a distinctive long and rough medieval-style tunic, known as a kilt, which has become a sort of national dress for Scotland. As part of their service, these servants would often travel to different lands, and so the name MacKilgarriff may have been adopted while they were abroad.
Despite the fact that the name is now far from rare, descendants of the original MacKilgarriff family can still be found in Ireland, particularly across the southeast. The MacKilgarriff family has a long and proud history, and many of their descendants have become successful in many fields, from military service to finance.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilgarriff: Where does the name MacKilgarriff come from?
The MacKilgarriff family name has a long history in County Galway, Ireland. The name is believed to be derived from an anglicization of the Irish phrase 'Mac Giolla Gearraidh', meaning 'Son of the servant of St. Gregory'. The MacKilgarriff family gave rise to two distinct septs, one based in Kiltullagh in Athenry and the other in Aughrim, with their respective chieftains styled as 'The MacKilgarriff of Kiltullagh' and 'The MacKilgarriff of Aughrim'.
Today, the MacKilgarriff name is still popular in County Galway and across the west of Ireland. There are a number of prominent families still bearing the name in Galway City and the surrounding area. The MacKilgarriff name is also widely used in the Irish diaspora around the world. In the United States, Canada, and Australia, the MacKilgarriff name is particularly common. In these countries, the name often takes the form of 'McKilgarriff', as many immigrants anglicized their name to make it easier to spell and pronounce.
The MacKilgarriff family name has a long and proud history in County Galway, Ireland, and is still widely used today around the world. From County Galway to Australia and the United States, the MacKilgarriff name continues to be a source of pride for those who carry it.
Variations of the surname MacKilgarriff
The surname MacKilgarriff (also spelled MacKilgariff, MacKilgariff or Kilgarriff) is an anglicised version of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Garbh. This name translates to mean ‘son of the rough devotee’ in Irish. The spelling and pronunciation of this name can vary among different branches of the family due to the complex nature of the Gaelic language.
In many cases, the surname is spelt MacKilgarriff, with the ‘o’ as a separate letter. The name is also spelled MacKilgarrif, with the ‘o’ removed, or MacKilgariff, with an additional ‘u’ included but with the ‘o’ again as a separate letter. Additionally, the name is also seen as MacKilgarif and MacKilgarifff.
Alternate surnames deriving from the same origin are also in use, including Kilgarriff and Kirby. These forms are usually anglicised variants of the MacKilgarriff spelling.
In summary, the surname MacKilgarriff, and its many variants and alternate spellings, all derive from the Irish Mac Giolla Garbh, which translates to ‘son of the rough devotee’ in English
Famous people with the name MacKilgarriff
- Catherine MacKilgarriff: Irish sculptor and figurative artist
- Daragh MacKilgarriff: Irish artist specialising in landscapes and abstracts
- Seamus MacKilgarriff: Irish architect and urban designer
- Tracey MacKilgarriff: British fronting on Channel 4 News
- Stephen MacKilgarriff: Irish actor, known for his roles in The Grande, Trainspotting 2, and The Redbrick Run
- John MacKilgarriff: Canadian filmmaker, known for his documentary “Life of a Nation”
- Eimear MacKilgarriff: Irish Classical composer and singer-songwriter
- Hugh MacKilgarriff: Irish actor and theatre director
- Darragh MacKilgarriff: former professional football player from Cork, Ireland
- Ciaran MacKilgarriff: British actor, known for his role in the TV show Ancient Aliens