Surname McKell - Meaning and Origin
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McKell: What does the surname McKell mean?
The surname McKell has its roots in Celtic and Gaelic origins. The name McKell has many variations, including MacKell, MacNiel, or MacKella. It is thought to come from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Chaluim, which means "son of the servant of (St.) Columba."
The name is most popular in Scotland and Ireland, although it is also common in other parts of the British Isles, such as Wales, England, and the Isle of Man.
McKell is believed to have been a sept or family name which originated in Scotland and was especially common among the Clann MacGillevray of Perthshire. It is also believed that the surname McKell was adopted by families from the Western Isles of Scotland in the 1700s.
Although the name McKell is now most popularly associated with Scotland and Ireland, there are many family branches that have spread to other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.
People bearing the last name McKell are known to be strong, adventurous, and loyal. They also have strong values and have strong connections within their communities. The modern McKell family is a proud and multicultural family, filled with strong traditions and values.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKell: Where does the name McKell come from?
The last name McKell is most commonly found today in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. It is a Scottish and northern Irish surname, and it is derived from the Old Gaelic MacGiolla, meaning ‘son of the devotee’ or ‘son of the follower’. McKell is a less common surname today, but it can still be found in areas with Scottish heritage, such as the northern states of the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the highest concentration of McKells are in North Carolina and South Carolina, where many Scottish settlers moved in the 1700s. Currently, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia also have a notable number of McKells.
In the United Kingdom, the highest concentration of McKells are in Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. McKell has always been a popular surname in Scotland, whereas in England and Ireland it has been less common.
In Canada, the province of Ontario holds a significant number of people with the McKell surname, especially in and around the capital city of Ottawa.
Although McKell is considered to be a rare surname, its prominent Scottish roots have helped preserve the longevity of this name throughout the years. It is possible to find McKells worldwide, but those within countries and cities of Scottish heritage still hold the highest concentrations.
Variations of the surname McKell
McKell is an anglicization of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Ceallaigh. In its original form, it is a patronymic surname that literally means ‘son of the devotee or servant of Ceallach’. The Gaelic prefix ‘mac’ means ‘son’ and the suffix ‘cill’ has developed from the ancient Irish Christian name Ceallach, a name derived from the root word for ‘famed warrior’.
Variant spellings of McKell include MacKeel, MacKelle, MacKell, MacKel and the rare form MacKelle. Variants of this surname that have been found in records include McKill, McQuill, MacGill, McIlle and McQuile.
Surnames of the same origin as McKell include Mckellar, Mckell, Mackell, Mackellar, Mackellan, Kilgill, Macgill, Macgillan, Macgil, Gill, Mcilgol, Kilgalls, Kilcoll, Gilli, Maclull, Macoll, Macill, Macgioll, Macgvell and Macgillen.
Variants of this surname can also be found outside of Ireland, such as McKellar, McKellan, McKelle, McKellin, McQuillin, MacGillivray, MacKilbride, and MacQuillan. These variants are generally found in Scotland and Canada, and they can trace their roots back to the Highlands of Scotland.
McKell is also sometimes seen as a surname in Wales and England, although this spelling is less common than the variants found in Ireland and Scotland. Variations in Wales and England can be seen as Maquill, Mackell, Maquile, Meckell, Makell, Mekell, Meckelt, Maquillan and Maquillon.
Famous people with the name McKell
- Jayden McKell: Australian child actor, best known for roles in films such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Santa Clause 3.
- Andrew McKell: Scottish professional footballer who currently plays for Stenhousemuir FC.
- Lauren McKell: Australian author and public speaker, best known for her book "Live Life, Love Abundantly: An Inspirational Guide to Self-Discovery".
- Maisie McKell: British actress who has appeared in several popular TV series, including Game of Thrones and The Tudors.
- Michael McKell: British actor, best known for his roles in Inspector Lewis, The Bill, and Doctor Who.
- Kathryn McKell: Australian poet and novelist, most known for her novel “Lock the Heart”.
- Jessica McKell: British singer and songwriter, best known for her single “On My Own”.
- Sev McKell: American basketball player, currently playing in the NBA D-League.
- Harry McKell: British actor, known for roles in popular films such as An American in Paris and Mad Max: Fury Road.
- Marjorie McKell: New Zealand artist and painter, most known for her landscapes and still life paintings.