Surname MacSorley - Meaning and Origin
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MacSorley: What does the surname MacSorley mean?
The last name MacSorley is a surname of Scottish origin, with its roots in the Gaelic phrase, 'Mac Soirdealaidh' or 'Son of Sorley'. This surname was derived from the personal name Sorley, which in turn comes from a Norse given name comprising of the Old Norse "sorr" meaning 'hero' or 'warrior', and "leikr" meaning 'play'.
The name MacSorley is most associated with the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland, where the Clan MacSorley first established itself. According to tradition, the descendant of the seventh chief was a man who moved away from his ancestral home to Ireland in the late 15th century, while his son later moved back to Scotland to reclaim his ancestral lands.
It is also believed that the name MacSorley originates from the Scottish Lowlands, with its earliest established records of its usage being found in the region during the 14th century. During this time, the MacSorley Clan is said to have held the lands of Gaullaway near Fenwick in Ayrshire.
The MacSorley coat of arms, which consists of three stars on an azure blue background, serves as a symbol of the family’s long-standing heritage and courage. The official motto of the Clan MacSorley is ‘Dum Spiro Spero’, which is Latin for 'while I breathe, I hope'.
Order DNA origin analysisMacSorley: Where does the name MacSorley come from?
The last name MacSorley is most commonly seen in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but has been found scattered around the world. According to World Names Public Profiler, countries where there is a notable presence of the MacSorley family include Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, Canada, the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
The name MacSorley is of Irish Gaelic origin and denotes a person from the Uí Sheorláin - an ancient family from the Connacht area of Ireland. This name was likely given to someone having settled in or near the ancient territory of Uí Sheorláin during the early Medieval period.
In Scotland, the MacSorley family can trace its ancestry to a branch of Macdonalds who, as a result of a dispute, were ordered to adopt the name "MacSorley." This new identity gradually spread to many parts of Scotland and eventually to the rest of the United Kingdom.
The name MacSorley is still relatively common in Ireland, with records indicating that there are nearly 2,000 people registered as bearing the name. Today, MacSorleys can be found across the UK, Ireland, North America, and Australia, though its presence is most notable in Scotland.
In terms of notable people with this name, conductor Keith MacSorley is possibly the most well-known. Keith is a professional musician and choir director based in Oxford, UK. He has worked extensively with Freesound.org, an online platform dedicated to the sharing of high-quality recordings and musical compositions.
Variations of the surname MacSorley
The MacSorley surname is a variant of the Irish surname McSorley. In some cases this surname may also be found as McSorlie, McSorly, MacSorlie or MacSorly.
The Irish MacSorley surname is believed to have descended from members of the original branch of the O'Neill family, who, in the 12th century divided the sept into two branches; the MacLaughlins and the MacSoreleys. The MacSoreley branch originated in the barony of Ardstraw, County Tyrone. During the Anglo-Normans' rule of Ireland, the MacSoreleys took control of the barony of Ardstraw in 1325, and they became the chief nobles of the barony.
The MacSorley surname is a variation of the Gaelic term (Mac an tSagart) which means "son of the priest". It is believed that the MacSorley family were the hereditary keepers of the bell used to call parishioners to Mass.
In Scotland, the McSorley surname is Gaelic and is known as MacGhille Shearchair. McSorley is derived from the Gaelic MacGhill shiarchair, which means "son of the disciple of the priest". It is believed that the McSorley family originated from the district of Moray, which is located in Northern Scotland.
The MacSorley surname is also found scattered across the Appalachians in the United States and Canada, where it is believed that members of the family immigrated during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The MacSorley surname has been found in various spellings, including MacSorlie, MacSorly, McSorlie, McSorly, and even MacSorley, as the family's name evolved with changing dialects and phonetics.
Famous people with the name MacSorley
- Bruce MacSorley: former professional ice hockey player who played for the Hartford Whalers, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Allan MacSorley: Scottish former professional footballer, a striker who most notably played for Celtic and Kilmarnock.
- Karen MacSorley: Member of the Ontario Order of Nurses and 34 year veteran in the nursing department of the Brockville General Hospital.
- Alphonsus MacSorley: Irish-born Canadian clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall from 1911 until his death.
- Chrysander MacSorley: Member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and has held various executive positions in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
- Rob MacSorley: former Canadian rugby union player who played for the University of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
- Michael MacSorley: folk musician and songwriter from Baileborough, County Cavan in Ireland.
- Sam MacSorley: Former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues from 1902 to 1911. He played for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Keith MacSorley: Award-winning chef and restaurateur, Executive Producer & Founder of Urban Chefs Network and is a published author, contributing writer and recipe developer for magazines, books and websites.
- Sean MacSorley: Voice actor, journalist and podcast host from London, U.K. He is the producer of the YouTube channel The Best of British TV, covering British pop culture.