Surname McIlrea - Meaning and Origin

McIlrea: What does the surname McIlrea mean?

The last name McIlrea is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Mac giolla Riabhaigh, which translates to ‘son of a devotee of sky blue’. This likely represents someone from the Ui Riabhaigh, which were a sept of the Ui Dhubhain and Ui Maolruanaidh, clans of the Cenel Moen, a territory in what is now County Sligo. The name is still found mostly in Ireland and the Celtic diaspora, with the largest concentration being in Ireland.

The name McIlrea is an anglicised version of the Gaelic original, and it is closely related to names such as MacGiollaRiabhaigh, MacIlreavy, MacIlvrey and McIlreavy. It is also related to the more ancient names MacGillriabhaigh and MacGilrea.

The prefix Mac/Mc/McIl/MacIl/MaCill was added to the front of the name and is derived from the Gaelic meaning 'son of', with the suffix rea also meaning 'son of' in some cases. This prefix also was used to indicate a family connection.

It's likely that some of the descendants of the Ui Riabhaigh sept adopted the name McIlrea, as they moved away from their original home and relocated to other parts of Ireland or to other countries in the Celtic diaspora. The name has certainly made it beyond its origins and its native lands, with people carrying the name found in a variety of locations around the world today.

McIlrea: Where does the name McIlrea come from?

The last name McIlrea is most commonly found in North America and the British Isles. The Irish surname is found predominantly in Ulster and is one of the rare surnames of the native Irish. It is believed to have originated from Scotland, where it is thought to have been derived from the MacDonald clan.

McIlrea is not one of the more common surnames in the United States or Canada, but it does appear in several states. It is especially prevalent in Michigan, New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts. In the United Kingdom, it appears in Lancashire, Cumbria, and Derbyshire.

The McIlrea name is sometimes used by people today as a middle name or as part of their double-barrel surname. For example, actor Colin Farrell has a middle name called McIlrea, and his mother was originally from the Irish town of Letterkenny.

In Scotland, some of the top-tier clans trace their origins to the McIllrea clan. The names descended from McIllrea include McInerney, McElligott, McElligott, and McIlroy.

In Ireland, the McIlrea name has been associated with health and healing. A famous McIlrea healer is reported to have had the power to cure warts by passing broken eggs over the affected area. This tradition has been passed down through the generations, although it is not as commonly done today.

Overall, the McIlrea name is relatively rare today, with most occurrences found in the British Isles and North America.

Variations of the surname McIlrea

The surname McIlrea is of Irish origin, and is mainly found in Northern Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Giolla Riabhaigh meaning Son of the Grey Haired Man, or the Beloved one. This surname is commonly found in County Sligo, and can also be spelled as MacIlrea, MacIlroy, McElrea, McElroy, MacEloy, McLurie, and McLurey.

In England and America, the surname McIlrea usually appears as McElroy or McElrea, whilst MacIlrea and MacIlroy are found more in Ireland and Scotland. MacEloy, MeLurie and McLurey are also seen in Scotland.

Variants of the surname McIlrea originate from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Riabhaigh, which then became anglicized into multiple forms of the same name. The different spellings can be simply due to a change in the speaker's accent or to how the listener heard the name, as well as the differences in spelling conventions between countries. It could also be due to scribal errors when the name was entered into official records.

The surname McIlrea is quite rare, and yet the variations of the name are even more unique. Many of these variations have probably since evaporated and been replaced by the more common McElroy or McElrea. The uniqueness of the variants does, however, afford some insight into the origination of the surname and its meaning.

Famous people with the name McIlrea

• Mike McIlrea: Professional skateboarder, actor and producer.
• Dean McIlrea: Former professional racing driver.
• Alastair McIlrea: Northern Irish jazz musician.
• Cato McIlrea: Former professional American football player.
• Mick McIlrea: Irish record producer, writer and singer.
• Julie McIlrea: Australian skeleton racer.
• Ricky McIlrea: Drummer for the Irish band, Something Happens.
• Gerry McIlrea: Former professional baseball player.
• Angie McIlrea: Curler from Northern Ireland.
• Neil McIlrea: Professional cyclist from Northern Ireland.
• Ty McIlrea: Professional stuntman and actor from Canada.
• Campbell McIlrea: Canadian sound engineer.
• Matty McIlrea: Former Australian rules football player.
• Ciaran McIlrea: Northern Irish soccer player.
• Dean McIlrea: Australian Paralympic swimmer.
• birgit McIlrea: German actress.
• Edward McIlrea: American author and filmmaker.
• Aaron McIlrea: Professional snowboarder from Canada.
• Jai McIlrea: Australian songwriter and musician.
• Troy McIlrea: Professional surfer from Australia.

Other surnames

McIlrayMcIlroy