Surname MacKillop - Meaning and Origin
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MacKillop: What does the surname MacKillop mean?
The surname MacKillop is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name MacFhilib, which translates to "son of Philip." The name Philip itself means "lover of horses" in Greek, so indirectly, the surname MacKillop could be interpreted to mean "son of the lover of horses." It is common for Scottish surnames to begin with "Mac" or "Mc," indicating a patronymic naming tradition where the first part of the surname identifies the name of the father or a paternal ancestor. Notably, the surname MacKillop was carried by Saint Mary MacKillop, an Australian nun who was the first Australian to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKillop: Where does the name MacKillop come from?
The name MacKillop is of Gaelic origin from the western coast of Scotland and the Hebrides islands. It's an anglicized version of the Gaelic MacFhilib, a patronymic from the personal name Filib, the Gaelic equivalent of Philip, meaning "lover of horses". The name has been anglicized to various forms such as MacKillop, MacPhillips, and MacPhilip. Over time, many members of the MacKillop clan emigrated, especially during the Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, the name MacKillop is most common among individuals in Scotland, the UK in general, and in countries with a significant Scottish diaspora such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. In particular, Australia has a significant association with the MacKillop name due to the influence of Saint Mary MacKillop, a nun of Scottish descent who co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and later became Australia's first canonized saint.
Variations of the surname MacKillop
The surname MacKillop is of Scottish origin and has several variants that reflect its Gaelic roots. These include MacKilop, McKillop, MacPhilip, MacPhillip, MacFee, and MacPhee.
Some of the lesser known variants of the surname are MacFie, MacGuffie, and MacCuffog. Spellings could also vary based upon phonetics or regional dialects, leading to names such as McAlpy, McAlpee, McAlphie, and McHaleep amongst others.
The prefix 'Mac' in Scottish and Irish surnames often means 'son of', and in the case of MacKillop it’s derived from the personal name Phillip. Variants like MacPhilip and MacPhillip relate to the Anglicisation of the Gaelic, hence share the same origin with MacKillop.
Terms like MacFee, MacFie, MacGuffie, and MacCuffog, on the other hand, come from the Gaelic 'Mac Dhuibhshíthe', meaning 'black peace'. They are considered septs (subgroups) of the Clan Macfie and thus share the same lineage as MacKillop.
Hence, surnames of the same origin are majorly seen to be the ones with 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefixes, and those that have meanings related to the name Phillip or 'black peace'.
Famous people with the name MacKillop
- Mary MacKillop: Also known as Saint Mary of the Cross, she is the first Australian to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who are dedicated to education and charity work.
- Flora MacKillop: The mother of Saint Mary MacKillop, Flora was honored for her devotion and support towards her daughter's religious journey.
- Julianne MacKillop: A Canadian professional ice hockey player who has played for the Connecticut Whale in the National Women's Hockey League.
- Nathan MacKillop: A British actor known for his role in the film "The Secret Scripture".
- Alex MacKillop: A British producer who worked on popular UK television series like "This Time with Alan Partridge" and "Midnight Beast".
- Sir Francis MacKillop: A British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party.
- Peter MacKillop: An American basketball coach known for his work with various college and high school teams.
- William MacKillop: A Scottish international rugby union player from the 1920s. Remember, although MacKillop is a well-known surname, not all MacKillop's are related.