Surname McIlmoyle - Meaning and Origin
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McIlmoyle: What does the surname McIlmoyle mean?
The last name McIlmoyle is of Scottish origin and falls under the category of patronymic surnames, which are based on the given name of the father of the initial bearer. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac giolla Mhaoil", meaning "son of the servant of the devotee". The part "Mac" or "Mc" translates to "son of", "giolla" means "servant", and "Mhaoil" likely refers to a devotee of a saint or holy figure. It must be noted, however, that different interpretations and spellings of the name exist due to regional variations and changes over centuries. Names were often modified letting individuals or families to signify a characteristic of the original bearer or the profession they were involved in. Over time, many of these names have evolved and have been Anglicized, hence the many variants of the same name. Therefore, the interpretation of the name may vary.
Order DNA origin analysisMcIlmoyle: Where does the name McIlmoyle come from?
The surname McIlmoyle is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Mhaoil" which translates to "son of the bald (or tonsured) one." It's believed to reference a follower of a particular saint, as early Christian monks often had a tonsured (partially shaved) head.
The variations of spelling for this surname are numerous including MacIlmoyle, McElmoyle, McIlmoyl, McElmeel, and many others, which makes tracking its prevalence a bit challenging. Primarily, McIlmoyle is associated with Ireland, particularly in the regions of Ulster and Connacht. During the 19th century, many Irish families immigrated to other countries due to the Great Famine. Therefore, the surname spread across the globe, particularly to English-speaking countries.
Today, while it remains relatively uncommon globally, the surname McIlmoyle is most frequently seen in Northern Ireland, followed by Canada, Australia, the United States, England, New Zealand and Scotland. Remember, the distribution is based on phone directories and public resources, and the data might change over time with migrations and population shifts.
Variations of the surname McIlmoyle
The surname McIlmoyle is of Irish origin and can have many spelling variations due to the combination of Irish spelling rules and regional and dialectal differences. Variants include: McElmoyle, McElmeel, McMeel, McIlmeel, McIlmail, MacIlmail, MacIlmeel, Macmeel, MacElmeel, MacIlmoyle, and MacElmoyle.
Sometimes the prefixes "Mc" and "Mac," which signify "son of," are used interchangeably. The entire spelling of the name may change depending on whether it was anglicized or translated from Irish to English. Therefore, you may also encounter other variants such as Elmeel, Ilmeel, Elmoyle, or Ilmoyle. It's also common for the same surname to be spelled in various ways within the same document.
It's important to consider that different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence. This can often be attributed to an individual creator’s phonetic interpretation or regional and dialectal differences in the pronunciation of the surname, especially when written by non-native English or Irish speakers, making the search for a particular family in records quite challenging.
Famous people with the name McIlmoyle
- Christopher McIlmoyle: Canadian actor, director, and playwright.
- Mike McIlmoyle: Scottish professional football player.
- Eric McIlmoyle: Canadian rower and member of the Canadian Olympic team.
- Kenneth McIlmoyle: British engineer, entrepreneur, and inventor.
- Howard McIlmoyle: Canadian painter known for his abstract and minimalist works.
- Oliver McIlmoyle: British Conservative politician.
- Felicity McIlmoyle: British photographer, filmmaker, and artist.
- John McIlmoyle: Canadian tennis player and fitness coach.
- David McIlmoyle: Canadian marketer and advertising executive.
- Mike McIlmoyle: British professional squash player.