Surname MacVarrelly - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacVarrelly: What does the surname MacVarrelly mean?
The last name MacVarrelly is a Scottish or Irish surname. It is derived from the Old Gaelic “Mac an Mheoir” which translates to “son of The Mariner”. This surname was likely adopted by a family of seafarers, which is suggested by the origin of the name.
In Scotland and Ireland, the name is found along the coast of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal, indicating the likely area of origin. The name is found especially around the Clan MacNamara region, where there were many seaports. The MacVarrelly clan eventually established itself in this area and can be found there to this day.
There are also records of the surname being found in Ireland during the 1800s, when many Irish people emigrated to other countries. The name is found in records all over the world, showing the migration of the MacVarrelly family beyond their area of origin.
The name has several spellings, including MacVarrelly, McVarrelly, and MacVerrelly, among others. It is also sometimes shortened to McCarley.
No matter how it is spelled, the MacVarrelly surname carries with it a rich history of seafaring heritage and can be traced back to the coastal regions of Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal.
Order DNA origin analysisMacVarrelly: Where does the name MacVarrelly come from?
The last name MacVarrelly is most common today in Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. The etymology of the surname is preventative rather than a patronymic, although it is believed to be derived from the Gaelic Mac Mhuirigh Bhealaigh (a son of Muireadhach Bhéalaidh), a variant of Muirgheas (from the Gaelic personal name Muirghius).
As of 2019, the surname MacVarrelly was most common in Ireland, with approximately 4,800 people bearing the name throughout the country. The largest population of MacVarrellys can be found in Dublin, with almost 1,000 people in the capital city alone.
In Scotland, there are an estimated 3,500 MacVarrellys residing there. The highest concentration of MacVarrellys is in Aberdeen, followed by Glasgow.
The UK has around 2,000 MacVarrellys with the most dense population found in London, followed by Manchester and Birmingham.
Today, the MacVarrelly name has been adopted around the world, with small populations in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Interestingly, the surname has also been adopted by some ethnic Chinese, where the 'Mac' part was anglicized as 'Ma'.
It is clear that the MacVarrelly name has seen a steady increase in numbers since its establishment centuries ago, and is today an iconic part of many societies around the globe.
Variations of the surname MacVarrelly
The surname MacVarrelly is a variant of the Irish surname Mac an Pháirtigh or MacPartland and is of Scottish origin. The prefix ‘Mac’ means son of and the root word ‘Pháirtigh’ occurs in several other surnames. The spelling of MacVarrelly has several variants the most common of which are MacPartlan, MacVarrelly and MacPartland.
The MacPartland spelling is the most common in Scotland and Ireland and is derived from the Irish name Mac an Pháirtigh meaning Son of the Barrister or Son of the Historian. Some variants such as MacParland and MacFarlane use a shortened version of the full surname. Other spellings include MacPharlane, MacFarlane, MacParland, MacVarty and MacVerally.
In the United States, descendants of immigrants from Scotland and Ireland more commonly spell their surname as MacVarrettly or MacVarlty. The MacVarlty spelling is also seen in England and Australia, with the MacForte variant seen in France.
Surnames related to MacVarrelly, which have the same origin, are Macpharlane, MacParland, Macforte, MacFarlane, MacVarty, MacVarlty, and MacVarelily. The surname is also occasionally seen as MacPhartland.
These names are derived from the ancient Irish surname MacBaighteach, meaning Son of the Keeper of Animals. The origin of this surname has been traced to the western highlands of Scotland in the 12th century.
Famous people with the name MacVarrelly
- Greer MacVarrelly: English journalist, writer, and broadcaster, who worked for BBC World News.
- Angus MacVarrelly: 19th century Scottish photographer.
- Angus MacVarrelly Jr.: Son of Angus MacVarrelly, he was a protégé of his father's and continued in his footsteps as a photographer.
- Dave MacVarrelly: He was a Canadian composer and songwriter, known mainly for his work as a session musician for numerous rock bands.
- Grant MacVarrelly: He was a Canadian field hockey player, who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Murray MacVarrelly: He was a multi-instrumentalist from Canada, most notably in the genres of folk, jazz, blues and world music.
- Tim MacVarrelly: He was an English actor, writer and producer, best known for his work on the British television series 'Little Britain'.
- Brian MacVarrelly: British violinist, composer and arranger, best known for his work in the rock band Manfred Mann.
- Alexander MacVarrelly: British theatre and film director, notable for his work in both classical and contemporary theatre.
- Tosh MacVarrelly: Scottish actress, best known for her stage and television work as Agnes Towler in the BBC Scotland sitcom 'Still Game'.