Surname McElwy - Meaning and Origin

McElwy: What does the surname McElwy mean?

The last name McElwy is of Irish origin and is a variant of the name McIlroy. It is an anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Ruaidh, which translates to "son of the follower of Ruaidh". It is believed to have originated in County Fermanagh, a county in Northern Ireland that was once part of the kingdom of Fermanagh.

Historically, the McIlroy (or McElwy) clan were considered an elite class of people in Ulster, the northernmost province of Ireland. They were descended from the high kings of Ulster and had ancestral lands in the area now known as County Fermanagh.

The clan was involved in military feats, although they were more often supporting roles than leading ones. In the 16th century, their support was vital in the defeat of the Gaelic Irish forces during the Nine Years War.

The McIlroy family were also renowned for their medical and literary knowledge and skills. In the 19th century, many of the family members became doctors and pharmacists, helping to advance the medical care of the time.

Today, the McIlroy and McElwy names are mostly scattered throughout Northern Ireland and around the world. The strongest McElwy populations are found in Canada and the United States. Those who still bear the name, despite the passage of time, still consider themselves to be members of a specific family and hold proudly to their Irish heritage.

McElwy: Where does the name McElwy come from?

The surname McElwy is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland, as well as in the Republic of Ireland and the United States.

The McElwy surname is likely Scottish in origin. McElwy first appeared in Scotland as MacElwee in the mid to late 1700s in Renfrewshire. It is also recorded that there were people using this surname in Lanarkshire before then. It is likely that many McElwys are descended from these early clans in the Scottish lowlands.

In the United States, the McElwy name can be found in all but six states: Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The highest concentrations of the surname are in California, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and Massachusetts.

In Northern Ireland, the McElwy name is fairly common. It first appeared there in Ulster in the mid 1600s, and records show that the first McElwy in Ulster was an immigrant from Scotland named Andrew McElwy.

Today, it appears that the surname McElwy can be found in all corners of the United Kingdom, with the strongest concentrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. There are also many McElwys throughout the United States, particularly in the Northeast and California.

Variations of the surname McElwy

The surname McElwy has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include MacElwee, McAlwee, McCalwie, McElwee, McAlwy, McCalwy, McCalwy, MacElwy, and McAlwy.

The surname has a Scottish origin. The word ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ means ‘son or grandson/descendants of’ in many of the various languages throughout the United Kingdom. Elwy is believed to have derived from ‘Eilidh’, which is the Gaelic word for ‘fact/truth’. This surname likely originated from someone with a reputation of being honest or truthful.

The surname is found in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the variant spelling ‘McElwee’ is most commonly used, although ‘McElwy’ and ‘MacElwy’ can be found in some records. In the United Kingdom, the variants ‘McAlwee’, ‘McCalwie’, ‘McElwee’, ‘McAlwy’, and ‘McCalwy’ can be found in various records.

Surnames derived from McElwy may include McElroy, McElwain, McElwaites, McElway, McIlwain, Elwy, Elwee, and Elway.

In conclusion, the surname McElwy has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The word ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ means ‘son or grandson/descendants of’ and the surname likely originated from someone with a reputation of being honest or truthful. The surname is found in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Derived surnames include McElroy, McElwain, McElwaites, McElway, McIlwain, Elwy, Elwee, and Elway.

Famous people with the name McElwy

• Nicole McElwy: actress and writer known for her role in the TV series Dear White People
• Sean McElwy: movie producer best known for producing films such as Grudge Match and Due Date
• James McElwy: professional soccer player who has played for Stoke City and England under-17
• Lorraine McElwy: professional violinist and professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London
• Dermot McElwy: Irish actor known for his roles in the TV series Single-Handed and Peaky Blinders
• Sarah McElwy: award-winning Scottish sculptor known for her geological and scientific-inspired artwork
• David McElwy: studio and sound engineer known for his work on the albums of Pink Floyd, U2, Talking Heads, and more
• Siobhan McElwy: award-winning film editor who has worked on films such as Miss Potter, Ghost World, and Julie & Julia
• Rebecca McElwy: international model, author, designer, and humanitarian activist
• Paul McElwy: award-winning author of several novels, including The Last Witness and The Darkest Fear

Other surnames

McElwainMcElwee