Surname McAnnally - Meaning and Origin
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McAnnally: What does the surname McAnnally mean?
The surname McAnnally is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac an Fhailghigh, which translates to "son of the poor man." The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" in Irish surnames typically means "son of," indicating a familial relationship or lineage. The name indicates the family's humble or potentially impoverished circumstances at the time of its origination. However, it's essential to remember that such naming customs heavily relied on the societal context and conditions. Over time the last name has been anglicized, and you can find several spelling variations, including McAnally, McAnnaly, McEnally, and others. Like many Irish surnames, it spread to other parts of the world, particularly English-speaking countries, through immigration, particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisMcAnnally: Where does the name McAnnally come from?
The surname McAnnally is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac an Fhailghigh," which means "son of the poor man." This surname comes from a nickname for a poor man or from a personal name Failghe, which means poor or humble.
The McAnnally surname also has variants, including McAnally, MacAnally, McAnnally, and others. Over the years, members of the McAnnally family emigrated to various parts of the world following the Irish diaspora, spreading the surname widely.
Today, the McAnnally surname is most common in the United States, especially in Texas, Alabama, and California where the highest concentrations of people with the McAnnally surname reside. It can also be found in Ireland, the birthplace of the surname, as well as in other countries like Canada, Scotland, and parts of Europe. However, the distribution and density are relatively less in non-American countries. It's worth noting that the surname's prevalence and spelling can vary greatly due to immigration, anglicization, and other historical factors.
Variations of the surname McAnnally
The surname McAnnally is of Irish origin and some of the variant spellings and associated names include: McAnally, McNally, MacNally, MacAnally, McEnally, MacEnally, McNaly, McInally, and MacInally. This surname can also appear without the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix, resulting in the variants Anally, Nally, or Inally.
Since Irish names often went through Anglicization, it's possible to find more phonetic variations like Macknally, Mackinally, or Mackanally.
The surname is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Con Uladh" which means "son of the hound of Ulster". The various spellings occur due to various phonetic translations from the original Gaelic.
The surname's distribution is particularly common in regions of Ireland where the Ulster Scots dialect was spoken, such as counties Armagh and Monaghan. Today, however, descendants carrying the McAnnally surname or its variants can be found throughout the world due to historic Irish emigration.
Associated clans and septs with similar names include the Macdonalds of Clanranald, where the "ranald" part has a similar origin to "anally".
Famous people with the name McAnnally
- Allen McAnnally: Allen McAnnally is an award-winning American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is best known for his album "Mustering the Courage" which attained International acclaim, along with songs such as "Rise Up."
- Kelsey McAnnally: Kelsey McAnnally is an American poet and storyteller who has been hailed as a "bold new voice in American storytelling." Her works have been published in various literary magazines and anthologies.
- Shelby McAnnally: Shelby McAnnally is a popular Mexican singer and actor. She has appeared in several television series including "Mi Gorda Bella" and "Alborada."
- Martin McAnnally: Martin McAnnally is a well-known British actor and director. He has acted in productions such as "Mansfield Park" and "The Accrington Pals," while directing stage productions of "The Merchant of Venice" and "Twelfth Night."
- Peter McAnnally: Peter McAnnally is a Canadian comedian, writer, and actor. He is best known for his work on shows such as the Second City television series, as well as the sketch comedy show "This Hour Has 22 Minutes."
- Leslie McAnnally: Leslie McAnnally is a popular American journalist and political commentator. She is the former editor-in-chief of the "New York Post" as well as the host of "This Week in Politics," a syndicated public affairs program on radio.
- Helen McAnnally: Helen McAnnally is a Scottish actress. She is most well-known for her appearances in the films "Trainspotting" and "Children of Men," as well as television roles in shows such as "Casualty" and "Foyle's War."