Surname McDill - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McDill: What does the surname McDill mean?
The last name McDill is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Mac Dhaibhidh" which translates to "son of David." This indicates that the first person to have the McDill surname was likely the son of someone named David. The Scottish highlands was the first place where the family name was used and it later spread across countries due to migration. It is mostly found today in Britain, particularly in Scotland, and in countries such as the United States and Canada due to Scottish migration. The name David itself has Hebrew origins, coming from the biblical King David, and means "beloved." So, in essence, McDill could be interpreted to mean "beloved son" or "son of the beloved one." Variations of the surname include McDowell, McDougall, and McDougle.
Order DNA origin analysisMcDill: Where does the name McDill come from?
The surname McDill has its roots in the Gaelic culture of ancient Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Mac Duibhshílabhe," which literally means "son of Duibhshílabhe.” Duibhshílabhe is a byname, meaning "black peace" or "dark peace." The McDills were descendent from an ancient Scottish king, King Kenneth, through their association with the MacDonalds.
Today, the McDill name is most common in the United States, specifically in states like Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina according to the distribution information on the Forebears website. Despite its Scottish origins, the name is less common in Scotland today as many of those bearing the McDill surname emigrated to North America during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. These emigrants were looking for better opportunities due to the economic and social conditions in Scotland, caused by factors like the Highland Clearances. Thus, the McDill name has a significant presence across the Atlantic Ocean in the United States.
Variations of the surname McDill
The surname McDill is of Scottish origin and primarily associated with communities of Scottish/Irish descent. McDill is spelled in various ways reflecting regional accents, anglicization, and different periods in history. Some of the variant spellings and phonetic equivalents include MacDill, McDille, MacDil, McDeal, McDeel and McDell.
McDill is connected to the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. It was originally derived from the Galloway region and could be linked to the larger family groupings such as Clan MacDougall, Clan Donald and Clan MacMillan. Similar sounding surnames, like MacDowell, McDougal or MacDillan, may potentially have linkages but often require genealogical tracking to confirm.
Given the practice of patronymics, "Mc" or "Mac" prefixed surnames indicate a lineage meaning "son of", so variants might exist without the prefix. For instance, Dill, Dell or Deal could be standalone surnames related to McDill. However, it's important to note that some variation might be coincidental and will require further genealogical verification. Historical records, family crests or coats of arms can sometimes provide clues about these possible variants or alternative spellings and related surnames.
Famous people with the name McDill
- Bob McDill: An American country music songwriter. His most famous songs include "Good Ole Boys Like Me," "Amanda," "Gone County," and "Caught Up in the Rapture."
- Pete McDill: A Louisiana politician and lawyer who served in both the Louisiana State House of Representatives and Senate during the 1960s and 1970s. He also ran for governor in 1967.
- Coley McDill: A retired American professional baseball player who played as a pitcher for minor leagues from 2012 to 2014.
- Alan McDill: A radio host and country songwriter who co-wrote songs with renowned artists in the music industry.
- Sage McDill: An American film and music video director who has worked with artists such as Iggy Azalea and Big Sean.
- Kathryn McDill: A well-known author of children's books.
- Andy McDill: A famous New Zealand sports journalist.
- Gary McDill: An American sculptor and digital artist whose work has been exhibited internationally.