Surname McIlhenny - Meaning and Origin
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McIlhenny: What does the surname McIlhenny mean?
The last name McIlhenny is an anglicized version of the Irish clan name Mac Giolla Eoin, which means “son of the devotee of St. John.” This name likely indicated a devotion to St. John the Baptist, as the originator of the McIlhenny name was likely a follower of the 6th-century saint.
The McIlhennys are related to the McDowells, McGonigles and McAnallys; each is thought to have stemmed from the same ancestral roots. They can all be traced back to the O’Neill clan, the powerful ancient Irish clan that ruled over most of the land of Ulster in the 1500s.
Today, McIlhennys can be found in many countries around the world, having descended from Irish immigrants who began emigrating in the 18th and 19th centuries. As an anglicized name, it is found most commonly in North America, particularly in the United States, where individuals with the McIlhenny surname make up an estimated 12,000 members of the population.
The McIlhennys of today are a diverse group, spanning various ages, occupations, and lifestyles; from business owners to farmers, professional athletes to actors. However, no matter where their family originated from, they all share a common link – their devotion to St. John the Baptist.
Order DNA origin analysisMcIlhenny: Where does the name McIlhenny come from?
The last name McIlhenny is most common today in several countries around the world including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, and Australia.
In the United States, the McIlhenny surname is most concentrated in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. It is among the top 1,000 surnames in each of these states. It is most commonly found in larger cities like Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta.
In Canada, the last name McIlhenny is concentrated mainly in Ontario and Alberta, with a fairly large population in British Columbia and Quebec as well.
In the United Kingdom, the McIlhenny surname is most common in England, especially in the London area. It is also found in greater numbers in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Australia has the greatest concentration of the McIlhenny surname outside of North America. Within Australia, it is most common in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
The McIlhenny surname is quite rare in other parts of the world, though small pockets of population exist in countries such as Germany, Italy, France, Mexico, and India.
Variations of the surname McIlhenny
The surname McIlhenny is a patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Fheine, which means "son of the one devoted to St Fheine". It is an Irish surname, commonly found in counties throughout Ireland. The spelling McIlhenny is the most common form of this surname.
Variations of this surname include M'Illhenny, MacIlhenny, MacIlhany, and Kilhenny. McIlhenny variants such as M'Illhenny and MacIlhany are usually found in the Ulster counties in Ireland.
Surnames of the same origin include McElhenny, MacElhenny, McIlhany, Melania, Machany, MacElhany, and McAlhany. These variants are usually found in the United States.
In addition, there are also variants of the surname that have been Anglicized over time, such as McAlhiney, McAlheny, McAlhaney, McAlhinney, McAlheinny, and Melhenney.
Similarly, other variants of the McIlhenny surname are derived from other Gaelic surnames with a similar definition, like Mac Giolla Fheineach, Mac Faolain, Mac Fhaelain, and Mac Bhaelain. Variants of these surnames include MacElhaney, MacElhainey, and MacGillaney.
The McIlhenny surname is derived from a patronymic of ancient Gaelic origins and the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin reflect the evolution of language and culture over time. People with this surname may also have similar surnames from being related by intermarriage or adoption.
Famous people with the name McIlhenny
- Tabasco Sauce creator, Edmund McIlhenny
- NFL player, Mardy McIlhenny
- American pilot, Commander Lawrence McIlhenny
- Jazz musician and author, Hokey McIlhenny
- American footballer, Frank McIlhenny
- Irish nobleman and secret agent, The O'Donovan McIlhenny
- American diplomat, Herbert McIlhenny
- Actor, Michael McIlhenny
- Pittsburgh sports fan, Dr. Jack McIlhenny
- Country music singer, Daniel Lee McIlhenny