Surname MacVallelly - Meaning and Origin
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MacVallelly: What does the surname MacVallelly mean?
The surname MacVallelly is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic-Irish "Mac Amhlaoibh" meaning "son of Amhlaoibh". Amhlaoibh is an old Gaelic name meaning "noble or princely". It is thought that the name referred to the old Irish chiefs of the Erenagh sept.
Historically, the Clan MacVallelly were a prominent family living in County Donegal, in the North of Ireland. They were most likely descended from the ancient O’Kane family, the sea kings of Carlin Glen. The MacVallellys held a powerful location in rural Donegal, with a castle overlooking Strabane, and the mountain pass of Owenboley.
The name MacVallelly was popular in County Donegal and other parts of Northern Ireland during the nineteenth century, but has since fallen out of popularity. Despite this, those who continue to bear the MacVallelly name today generally reside in Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Canada.
The MacVallelly family has produced some notable members over the years, including William O'Kane, who wrote the first Gaelic dictionary. Members of the MacVallelly family have also been involved in politics, sports, and the military.
In sum, MacVallelly is a proud Irish surname with strong historical value and associations. It originates from the Gaelic Amhlaoibh, meaning ‘noble prince’, and is believed to have descended from the ancient O’Kane family. Although the name is now less common than it was previously, many members of the MacVallelly family continue to make contributions to pursuits such as literature, politics, sports, and the military.
Order DNA origin analysisMacVallelly: Where does the name MacVallelly come from?
The last name MacValleyll is most common in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. In Ireland, the MacValleyll surname is most commonly found in the Ulster Province, notably in counties Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan, and Armagh. There are also records of the name in Cork and Dublin.
In Scotland, the name is most commonly found in the Highlands and Islands regions. Here, the name is found in the county of Inverness, as well as the islands of Islay, Lewis, Skye, and Orkney. In Northern Ireland, the name is found mostly in counties Donegal, Antrim, and Derry.
Outside of these countries, the name is commonly found in England, especially in the London area. The last name MacValleyll is also fairly common in North America, especially the United States. Here, the name can be found on both coasts—from California to New York—as well as in the Midwest, Mountains, and Great Plains. The name is also fairly common in Australia and New Zealand.
Overall, the last name MacValleyll is fairly common throughout much of the English-speaking world. However, the name is particularly common in its native regions of Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Variations of the surname MacVallelly
The surname MacVallelly is derived from the Gaelic word Mac Amhalghaidh, which translates to "son of the grandson of the servant". Spellings and variants of MacVallelly include MacAulay, MacCauley, MacGawley, MacCauly, MacVealy, MacVoller, MacVally, MacBalloch, and MacVolloch.
The surname also has numerous variants in other languages. In Irish it is Mac Amhalghaidh, while in Welsh it is MacGwenllian. In Scottish it appears as MacPelle, and in French as MacAuley and MacApollon.
It has its origions in Ireland, where it mostly appears in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht, also known as the County Mayo or Connemara area. The root of the name is also found in Scotland and in parts of England, Germany, America, and Canada.
The MacAuley is a branch of the MacVallelly clan, and is especially common in Ulster. MacCauly is thought to be a variant form of MacAulay.
MacGawley is an anglicization of MacAmhalghaidh, which also appears as MacVallelly. MacVoller is Gaelic for Mac Amhalghaidh, while MacVally and MacBalloch were also derived from the root Mac Amhalghaidh. MacVolloch is a variant of the surname MacVoller.
The surname MacVallelly is also seen in many other regional and international locations, having been brought to those places by either settlers from Ireland or Scottish emigrants. For instance, there are MacVallelly families in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In conclusion, the surname MacVallelly is a combination of many variants, spellings and surnames that have different origions, countries and variations. Despite their diverse backgrounds, all of them have their roots in the Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh.
Famous people with the name MacVallelly
- Brian MacVallley: Canadian musician and producer.
- Alexandre MacVallelly: Brazilian actor and model.
- Barry MacVallelly: Canadian businessman.
- Chuck MacVallelly: NHL hockey player.
- Eamonn MacVallelly: Gaelic footballer from Ireland.
- Keegan MacVallelly: Canadian varsity football player.
- Mark MacVallelly: Scottish footballer.
- Nathan MacVallelly: English footballer.
- Nicholas MacVallelly: Canadian hockey player.
- Steve MacVallelly: Canadian Geologist.