Surname McElyea - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McElyea: What does the surname McElyea mean?
The surname McElyea is of Scottish origin and is considered a geographical surname. It derives from a historical area known as Alyth, which is located in Perth and Kinross in Scotland. The prefix 'Mc' in Scottish and Irish surnames means 'son of' and thus, McElyea could be translated to 'son of Alyth'. It is important to note that over centuries, the spelling of surnames can significantly change due to factors like immigration and phonetic spelling. Therefore, the modern spelling of the surname may differ from its original form. The surname is relatively rare and most commonly found in the United States. Like most surnames, the exact meaning of McElyea can be difficult to determine due to the evolution of language and migration of peoples. Furthermore, the use and translation of surnames can vary significantly between cultures and regions.
Order DNA origin analysisMcElyea: Where does the name McElyea come from?
The surname McElyea is of Scottish origin, stemming from the Scottish Clan MacAulay from the Scottish Highlands. The name translates to "son of Aulay," with Aulay being a personal name popular in Scotland, based off the Old Norse name Óláfr. The McElyea spelling variant may have possibly arisen through phonetic emigration or translation when family members moved to English-speaking regions. Currently, the last name McElyea is more commonly found in the United States, particularly in southern regions such as Alabama and Tennessee due to migration patterns. Given its exact rarity and distribution, this surname is not extremely common in any specific region. It is estimated that less than 3,000 people in the world carry this surname, with the highest concentration in the United States. However, it's worthwhile to note that different variations of the original Scottish name MacAulay could be more widespread.
Variations of the surname McElyea
The surname McElyea has roots in Scotland and is associated with the Clan MacAulay and the Gaelic personal name Amhalaibh, which translates to "Ancestor's relic". The surname has been spelled in various ways during the course of history due to various pronunciation discrepancies, handwriting difficulties and misinterpretations of the original spelling by clerks and census takers.
Variations of McElyea may include McAlea, McAlee, McAleigh, McAley, McALea, McALee, McALey, McALie, McALyea, McALya, McALye, McALyie, McAlyea, McAlya, McAlyie, McAlyea, McAlyee, McAlyer, McAlyre, McAlyea, McAlyer, McAlyre, McAulay, MacAulay, MacElwee, MacElwain, MacAley, MacAlee, and MacEley.
The 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefix means 'son of', therefore some versions may also drop the prefix giving rise to Alea, Aley, Alyea, Aleya, Aleia, Alyia, Elwee, Elwain, Elley, Elyea, Alyee, Alie, Alyie etc.
Some versions of the surname might also showcase changes at their endings such as McElyeah, McElyeah, McAlyeaw, McElyeaw which are possibly due to phonetic translations. However, these could be very rare and less common.
It should be noted that these variations may also coincide with other family names of different origins.
Famous people with the name McElyea
- Josh McElyea: American actor best known for his roles in the films Boyken and Dog Days.
- Ryan McElyea: American actor who has seen television success with roles on shows such as "The Middle", "Atypical", and "Chance".
- Tige McElyea: professional wrestler who wrestled in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
- Billy McElyea: American football player with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL).
- Robert McElyea: Major League Baseball (MLB) and Negro Leagues baseball player.
- Lindsay McElyea: American softball player who has won many awards, including a gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Kyle McElyea: Champion surfer and paddle boarder who competes for both the USA and Hawaii.
- E.C. McElyea: American author and playwright whose work has been produced in London's West End and Broadway.
- Cris McElyea: British film producer who has worked on films such as The Eagle and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
- Paul McElyea: Four-time Grammy-winning jazz guitarist known for his work with John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, and Chick Corea.