Surname McKerrelly - Meaning and Origin

McKerrelly: What does the surname McKerrelly mean?

The surname McKerrelly is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic MacGiolla Ruaidhrí, which translates to mean ‘son of the red devotee'. The Gaelic surname derives from ‘ruadh’, the Gaelic word for ‘red’, and ‘giolla’, which means ‘devotee’. It is likely that the McKerrelly clan were originally named for a red-haired ancestor.

The McKerrelly name can be found in various different variants across Scotland, such as MacGilvery, MacKerrell and MacKerril. The name is most commonly found in the counties of Ayrshire, Perthshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde. Evidence of the McKerrelly family can also be traced back to Ireland, most notably in the counties of Donegal and Tyrone.

The McKerrellys have made their mark on Scotland throughout history. Alan McKerrell was a member of the Hamilton family which served as regents to the throne of Scotland before the Union of the Crowns in 1603. In 1790, Robert McKerrell was the 12th Baron of Largs and Keeper of Rothesay Castle.

Today, the McKerrellys continue to be a prominent and proud Scottish clan, who cherish their heritage and commemorate their name proudly.

McKerrelly: Where does the name McKerrelly come from?

The last name McKerrelly is of Irish origin and can be found mostly in Ireland and other countries where Irish people have relocated over the past few centuries. According to Census records, the name McKerrelly is most commonly found in Ireland, Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand – with the highest concentrations found in these five countries.

In Ireland, the most common counties to find the McKerrelly family name are Dublin, Mayo, Cork, and Donegal – with the highest numbers being found in Mayo. In Australia, the surname McKerrelly can be seen mostly in the states of Western Australia and Victoria. The McKerrelly last name is fairly uncommon in the United Kingdom, likely due to emigration when the potato famine hit. Several people with the McKerrelly surname have moved to the United States, Canada, and other countries in recent years, so the surname has spread to other parts of the world.

For individuals searching for relatives with the McKerrelly surname, an online search would be a great starting point. While there are online directories of surnames that can provide some information, the best source would be official genealogy records and census records, which can provide more accurate and detailed information about a family’s line of descent from an ancestor that was born in the 1700s or earlier.

Variations of the surname McKerrelly

Variants of the surname McKerrelly mostly fall into two categories: the variation McKerrelly and the alternate spellings McKerrely, McKerlie, and McKerly.

The name McKerrelly is rooted in the Gaelic language and originated in Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the root word MacGille Rolaigh, meaning “son of the servant of Rolaigh”. Though the origins of the name may be up for interpretation, authorities in the field of onomastics agree that the surname McKerrelly was created by adding a “Mac” (son of) to the original name Gille Rolaigh (servant of Rolaigh).

The name McKerrelly has developed the following alternate spellings over the centuries: McKerrely, McKerlie, McKerly, McKerrell, McKerrill, and McKerril. Most of these surnames are derived from the same roots as McKerrelly, though the spelling may have changed naturally over the course of many generations.

There may also be small regional variations of the name in certain areas of Scotland, Ireland, and other places where people of Celtic ethnic origins have settled. For instance, the surname may be spelled McKernery, McKernery, or McKernery.

In some instances, the name McKerrelly may have been adopted as a surname when an ancestor moved to a new area or country and adopted the language of the new location. It is possible that the surname underwent some phonetic changes that produced new spelling variants.

No matter how one utilizes the surname or how it’s spelled, the universal meaning behind the name remains the same: son of the servant of Rolaigh.

Famous people with the name McKerrelly

• David McKerrelly: He is a Scottish actor who has appeared in many movies and stage productions. He is most well-known for his roles in films such as The Killing Fields, Scrooge, and Time Bandits.
• Ryan McKerrelly: He is a former professional ice hockey player from Canada. He is best known for his successful stint with the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League.
• Brian McKerrelly: He is an Irish professional Drag Racer, who is currently competing in the Super Pro Class of the Irish Drag Racing Champions. He is an eleven-time Irish champion.
• Sarah McKerrelly: She is a British actress and singer-songwriter. Sarah is best known for her roles in musical theatre productions such as Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.
• Robert McKerrelly: He is an American composer and jazz musician. He is particularly known for his smooth jazz style and has several albums to his credit.
• Barbara McKerrelly: She is an Australian actress who has appeared in several soap operas and television shows since the late 1990s. She is best known for her roles in soap operas such as Home and Away and Neighbours.
• John McKerrelly: He is an American television writer, director, and producer. He is best known for his work in the television series Northern Exposure and was the showrunner for the series Rome.

Other surnames

McKerrell