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Surname McIlhaga - Meaning and Origin

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McIlhaga: What does the surname McIlhaga mean?

The last name McIlhaga is a Scottish surname, with its earliest reference found in the 12th century. The literal translation of the name is “servant of Saint Babhag”, and the surnames McIlhag and MacIlhag are variants of the same name.

The name is derived from two Gaelic terms, ‘mac’ meaning ‘son of’ and ‘ilhag’ which is an old given name. It is thought that the name McIlhaga may have originated in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland, from an ancestor with either the given name or the surname.

Historically, the name was most commonly found with the Mac/Mc prefix attached to it in Scotland. It is likely that the name MacIlhaga was brought to Scotland from Ireland during the extensive migration periods of the 16th and 17th century.

The McIlhaga last name is thought to be quite rare, as there was no one in the 1881 census in Britain and Ireland who was recorded to carry it. It is possible that the name is still present in some areas of Scotland, although it is unlikely to be common.

Today, it is likely that the last name McIlhaga is used by a handful of families in Scotland. For those who have this surname, it serves as a reminder to them of their roots in their Scottish and Irish heritage.

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McIlhaga: Where does the name McIlhaga come from?

Modern variants of the surname McIlhaga are mainly found in the UK, Ireland, and North America. The earliest recorded variants of the name were found in the Irish province of Ulster, where families of McIllhagga, McIllhague, and MacIlhagga were reported to be located in the baronies of Ards, Castlereagh, and Lecale in the 17th century. The Isle of Man has also been a significant area for McIlhaga bearers, with the surnames MacIlag, Macyllag, and MacIlleg reported in the 16th century.

In Britain, the surname has been widely dispersed particularly in England and Scotland by the 19th century, and has been found in the towns of Motherwell, Kilbarchan, and in the hamlet of Knockanminion in the county of Lanarkshire.

In North America, the surname has been present since the early 1800s, with migrants bringing the name to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York. The United States Census found a considerable number of those bearing the names McIlhaga, McIleg, and McIllega living in the U.S. as of early 2000.

In total, there are believed to be at least 20,000 people with a variant of the surname McIlhaga living around the world today.

Variations of the surname McIlhaga

McIlhaga is a surname of Scottish origin derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Ochaidh, meaning "son of the servant of Ochaidh". It is most commonly found in County Donegal and throughout Ireland. Throughout the centuries various spellings and variants of this surname have developed, which might be found in genealogical records and documents.

Common variants of the surname McIlhaga include MacIlhagha, MacIlhaidh, MacIlhoy, MacIlwagh, MacIlwah, MacIlwaig, MacIlweagh, McGillochaig, and McGillochay. There have also been some modern versions of the name, less recognizable to those unfamiliar with the history of the name, such as Halkett and Helhag.

Variations in spelling and phonetic spellings can also be seen in historical records, such as Allgah, Hilchah, Hilchay, Hilhag, Hylhag, Kilhagha, and McAlhag.

Surnames related to McIlhaga, which arose from different parts of the same family, include MacGill, MacGillen, MacGillivray, MacGilloway, MacIlhone, MacLhagga, MacLhaughs, MacLhose, McKillop, and McLeoc.

In summary, while the most common modern variants of the surname McIlhaga remain MacIlhagha, MacIlhaidh, MacIlhoy, MacIlwagh, MacIlwaig, and MacIlwah, there are numerous spellings and variations which can be found across historical records as well as related surnames which tandem with the McIlhaga surname.

Famous people with the name McIlhaga

  • Shane McIlhaga: Professional British rugby player who played for Belfast, Ebbw Vale RFC, and Ulster.
  • Kevin McIlhaga: Former English rugby league footballer from Warrington, who played professionally for the Warrington Wolves.
  • Tyson McIlhaga: Professional Australian rugby union player who played for the Western Force and New South Wales Waratahs.
  • Vinnie Mcilhaga: Former American professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993-2001.
  • Daisy McIlhaga: Professional dancer who achieved success in the reality television show So You Think You Can Dance.
  • Susan McIlhaga: American artist, known for her photography, painting, and mixed-media art.
  • Laura McIlhaga: American actress and model, known for her roles on shows such as The Glades and Hawaii Five-0.
  • Shelby McIlhaga: Professional South African singer and model, known for her powerful vocals and dynamic performance style.
  • Steve McIlhaga: Award-winning Canadian actor and director, known for films such as The Boy In The Striped Pajamas and Fury.
  • Colm McIlhaga: Award-winning Irish writer, director and producer, known for his films Taste and I Won't Follow.

Other surnames

McIlhaggaMcIlhaggartMcIlhaggerMcIlhaggoMcIlhargy

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