Surname McKerell - Meaning and Origin

McKerell: What does the surname McKerell mean?

The last name McKerell is an Anglicized Irish surname that originated in the ancient kingdom of Ulster. The name is derived from Mac Giolla Easpuig, which is Anglicized to MacGilleaspuig and then further shortened to McKerell. The mac prefix translates to ‘son of’ and the second part of the name, Giolla Easpuig, comes from the personal name Aspaig, a diminutive form of the masculine name Áespric which has an ancient meaning of 'respected one'.

The McKerells are most likely descended from a sept of the O’Breslins, a powerful Gaelic clan that inhabited the Fermanagh and Tyrone regions of Ireland during the 12th century. The septs were smaller siblings predominately with similar occupations or locations and were quite separate from the O’Breslins yet remained as an integral part of the overall family. The family were noted for their involvement in the printing industry in the 18th century, and some families took up residence in Scotland with the heavy migration that began in the mid 19th century.

To this day, many McKerells still live in Ireland, often in the North-West region. There is also a community of McKerells in America, having emigrated from Ireland during the potato famine of the 1840s. Today, the surname McKerell is proud and strong, and its legacy of strength and resilience continues.

McKerell: Where does the name McKerell come from?

The last name McKerell is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland, particularly in the Northern parts of those countries. Specifically, the name McKerell is common in the counties of Lancashire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in England, as well as in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

McKerell is believed to be a variation of the surname McClelland, an Irish surname which has origins in the ancient Gaelic Mac Giolla na Braithe. This translates to "son of the follower of St.Brittius," a highly esteemed saint from the 5th century, suggesting that the roots of McKerell reach far back in time. Through centuries of migration and settlement, the name McKerell eventually spread to the counties mentioned above.

Today, McKerell is still most commonly found in these same parts of the United Kingdom. For example, the 1881 British Census showed that in Lancashire 24% of people with the McKerell surname lived in the towns of Accrington and Burnley. Other notable concentrations of McKerells today have been estimated to be in South Carolina, North Carolina, Montana and Washington State in the US, as well as in the Australian state of Victoria.

Variations of the surname McKerell

McKerell is a surname of Scottish origin, stemming from the Gaelic name mac Chiarail, meaning ‘son of the dark one’. This surname is known to be derived from the prominent ancient clan MacKerrell of Dundonald and is believed to have first been recorded in 1165.

Some common variants, spellings and surnames of McKerell include:

• Mackrell

• Mackerall

• Mackerell

• MacKerrell

• McKerall

• Kreel

• Krell

• O’Kerrell

• Carrell

• Carell

In addition to the aforementioned variants of the surname McKerell, there are a few other variations including:

• Kilcrell

• Kilcrelly

• McCrell

• McCreel

• Mccrile

• MacCrell

• Mikkrell

• Kerell

• Kerelay

• McKarell

• McKarrell

• McKerlee

These various spellings and surnames of McKerell are likely a result of the Anglicization of this surname through the generations as it was passed down from Scotland to other parts of the world. The name is currently found throughout Scotland, England, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Famous people with the name McKerell

• Oritsefemi McKerell: Nigerian singer-songwriter
• Matt McKerell: American actor best known for his appearance in the Netflix series “Atypical”
• Roy McKerell: American former NHL ice hockey player
• David McKerell: Canadian lawyer and public servant currently working with the Federal Court of Canada
• Matt McKerell Jr.: Hockey player for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League
• Bruce McKerell: Former President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Joshua McKerell: American soccer player for the San Antonio FC
• Lorne McKerell: Former Canadian Football League player
• Colbert McKerell: British diplomat and former Canadian ambassador to India
• Quinten McKerell: American country music singer-songwriter and producer

Other surnames

McKerelly