Surname McKervill - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKervill: What does the surname McKervill mean?
The surname McKervill doesn't have a specific known meaning as it does not appear in records of common or historically significant surnames. Its structure suggests it may have Gaelic or Scottish origins, as "Mc" in Scottish and Irish names generally means "son of," indicating it may be a patronymic surname. The latter part of the surname 'Kervill', does not seem to correspond with known Gaelic words or names, so it could signify a place, profession, or personal characteristic in an anglicized or obsolete form. Surnames' meanings can also become obscured over time due to factors like migration, regional dialects, literacy levels or transcription errors. Confirming the exact meaning of 'McKervill' would require more specific genealogical research into its lineage and geographical origin. It should be noted that names can often have multiple origins and meanings, and this interpretation is just one possibility based on its linguistic features.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKervill: Where does the name McKervill come from?
The surname McKervill is of Scottish origin. It is derived from MacGreville, an ancient Scottish clan name. "Mac" in Scottish Gaelic means "son of," so McKervill may have originally meant "son of Greville."
The name, however, is quite uncommon, and there is limited information about its distribution today. Surname distribution maps do not indicate any significant concentration of people named McKervill in any particular region. However, given its Scottish roots, it may be expected that a fraction of individuals with this surname could still be found in Scotland, or places with Scottish ancestry such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Please note that the spelling variations of this surname could impact the perceived frequency and distribution of this name. McKervill could be a variant of the surname MacGrevill, or have evolved into other forms over time. Researching such variations may give a more complete picture of the surname's lineage and current prevalence. It is also important to remember that the migration and movement of people over centuries, and changing name spellings can obscure the name's origin and distribution.
Variations of the surname McKervill
The surname McKervill appears to have roots in Scotland and Ireland. It seems like a variant of the surname MacKerrell or MacKerrill, which itself is derived from MacFhearghail in Gaelic, meaning "son of Fearghal". Fearghal is a personal name composed of the elements "fear" meaning "man" and "gal" meaning "valour".
Variations and spelling alternatives of the surname McKervill can include McKerrell, McKerril, MacKerrill, MacKerrell, Mackerell, Mackeril, MacKerriel, McKerrol, McKerrall, McKerell, McErvel, McErval, McErville, McErvel, McKervel, McKervile, and McKeirvil.
The change and diversity in the spelling of surnames occurred mainly due to the transcription dictated by the church officials and scribes which went on to be official record. The spelling variations can also be attributed to the pronunciation habits within different regions, as well as the influence of other languages over time. Therefore, the surname McKervill and its variants may have been spelled differently over the centuries. It's important to consider all possible spellings when conducting genealogical research.
Famous people with the name McKervill
- Will McKervill: former field hockey player for the USA and 2015 Olympian
- Don McKervill: Founder of the Don McKervill Memorial Trust for Sick Children
- Ronald McKervill: Liberian baseball player who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Robert McKervill: Canadian artist and film director
- Nate McKervill: prisoner rights activist from Kentucky
- John McKervill: Irish composer, often associated with the Donegal Fiddlers
- Jim McKervill: American lawyer and politician from Illinois
- Phil McKervill: former head coach of the Portland Timbers MLS soccer team
- Matthew McKervill: Senior Lecturer at Yale University in American literature
- Percy McKervill: British World War I flying ace