Surname McIlroy - Meaning and Origin

McIlroy: What does the surname McIlroy mean?

The surname McIlroy is of Irish origin, thought to be derived from the Gaelic name Mac Giolla Rua, meaning "son of the red-haired follower". The name was likely originally given to someone who had red hair, being of a minority amongst the mostly dark-haired Irish population.

The McIlroy name is also found in Scotland, however this is likely due to Scottish-Irish migration. In Scotland, there are many different variants of the surname, such as, MacIlroy, MacIlwraith and MacElroy, and these are believed to all be related.

The name McIlroy is most commonly found today in Ulster, Ireland, and is also found in the six counties of Northern Ireland. It is also found in Scotland, Canada, the United States, Australia and throughout Europe.

The McIlroy name has also been synonymous with success throughout the years, as many people with this surname have gone on to accomplish great things in their field. These include Victoria Cross recipient Sir Wilfred McIlroy, professional golfer Rory McIlroy, and Hollywood actor Paul McIlroy.

Overall, the family name McIlroy has a long and interesting history and continues to be one of the most common family names in Ireland, Scotland, and many other countries across the world today.

McIlroy: Where does the name McIlroy come from?

The last name McIlroy is commonly found throughout Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. In Ireland, McIlroy is one of the top 40 common surnames. In Northern Ireland, it is the 26th most common surname. In Scotland, McIlroy is the 134th most common surname. In England, McIlroy is the 384th most common surname.

The last name McIlroy is also found in some parts of the United States, particularly in areas with a large Irish heritage. In Pennsylvania, it is the 45th most common surname, and in New York, it is the 70th most common. Other states with high occurrences of McIlroy include Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.

Canada also has a significant population of people bearing the last name McIlroy. It ranks as the 39th most popular last name in the province of British Columbia, 40th in Alberta, 49th in Ontario, and 61st in Quebec.

The name McIlroy is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Rua which translates as "son of the red-haired follower of the king." It is believed to have originated in northern Ireland. The McIlroys were a powerful clan in the region in the 11th century, often referred to as the "Clann Muircraigh." The McIlroy's were prominent in Ireland until the 19th century when many left for North America and Great Britain in search of a better life. Today, the last name McIlroy is scattered across the globe, thanks to these migrations.

Variations of the surname McIlroy

The surname McIlroy has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations are MacIlroy, McElroy, McLroy, MacElroy, McCilroy, McElree, McClerry, McElvoy, McAlroy, McRory, and Melroy.

McIlroy is an anglicised version of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Ruaidh, which means “Son of the Red Haired Servant” or “Son of the Red Haired Follower”. This name was most likely applied to a person who had red hair or was a follower of a red-haired man.

The McIlroys originally lived in County Antrim, in the North of Ireland. As the number of McIlroys spread throughout Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the United States, the surnames may have taken on different forms.

Variants of the McIlroy surname in Scotland can include McIlrath, McIlraith, MacIlrae, McIlray and McIlroye.

The variants in Scotland may have been a result of the Anglicisation of the Gaelic language of Irish settlers who came to Scotland in the 1700s.

In the United States, the surname can also be spelled as McElvoy and Melroy.

The surname McIlroy has also been used as first names in recent years, with notable people, such as the golfer and winner of the 2011 U.S. Open Rory McIlroy, using it.

In conclusion, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McIlroy are MacIlroy, McElroy, McLroy, MacElroy, McCilroy, McElree, McClerry, McElvoy, McAlroy, McRory, Melroy, McIlrath, McIlraith, MacIlrae, McIlray, McIlroye, McElvoy and Melroy.

Famous people with the name McIlroy

• Rory McIlroy: Professional golfer who is the reigning FedEx Cup champion and a four-time major champion.
• Aggie MacKenzie: British television presenter and author specializing in consumer advice and home renovations.
• Larry McIlroy: Irish hurler who played as the goalkeeper for the Wexford senior team.
• Ewart McIlroy: English professional footballer who made 150 appearances for Stoke City.
• Michelle McIlroy: Irish ladies' international footballer who played for the Irish national team.
• Frank McIlroy: Australian politician who was leader of the Australian House of Representatives from 1956 to 1957.
• Brendan McIlroy: Former Northern Irish footballer who played for Glentoran and Cliftonville.
• Matthew McIlroy: Professional footballer who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League.
• Thomas McIlroy: Retired Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club.
• Kyle McIlroy: Australian rules footballer who plays for the Western Bulldogs in the AFL.

Other surnames

McIlrayMcIlrea