Surname MacKilcowley - Meaning and Origin
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MacKilcowley: What does the surname MacKilcowley mean?
The last name MacKilcowley is a Scottish name that has links to the ancient Celtic tribes of Scotland. It is thought to have originated from the Pictish ‘macc’ meaning ‘son’, combined with the Norse ‘kollr’ which is thought to mean ‘dweller of a narrows’. Thus, the original meaning of the surname likely alluded to the idea of ‘the son of the dweller of the narrows.’
Over time, the Gaelic spelling of the name has also changed from its original MacKilcowley to variations such as MacKelvie, MacKilvie, and MacKilvee. Historians believe that this altering of the spelling of a surname was to make it easier for scribes to write and pronounce, while still maintaining the original intent.
Throughout the centuries, the MacKilcowleys have held a prominent place in Scotland’s history. Notable MacKilcowleys include Sir Andrew MacKilcowley of Glencairn, a laird who served under Mary Queen of Scots, and Arthur MacKilcowley, a High Constable and economist who gained recognition during the 1700s.
While many MacKilcowleys have scattered to far-flung places across the globe, their legacy remains deeply rooted in Scotland’s history and culture. Today, the name continues to bring a sense of identity to members of the clan who carry it, continuing to remind them that they are a part of a long, proud, and noble heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilcowley: Where does the name MacKilcowley come from?
The last name MacKilcowley is most commonly found in North America. In the United States, the top five states with the highest reported numbers of people with the name are Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. In Canada, the top five provinces and territories reporting the highest usage of the name are Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.
The MacKilcowley surname is believed to have originated from a place located in Northern Ireland. The 'Mc–' meaning 'son of' and the second part 'Kill' or 'Cowell', which means either the 'church in the corner of the pasture' or 'son of the herdsman' may have likely been adopted to represent the area’s geographical landscape.
Today the MacKilcowley surname can still be found around the globe, though primarily in North America. It is typical for the last name to have been Americanized or Anglicized when a family originally arrived in one of the two countries to make it easier to assimilate. However, in some cases, the name has remained unchanged.
Given its commonality, there are multiple websites that list the name under a variety of categories such as genealogy, online forums, and social media sites where people with the name can connect with other families and share their histories.
Variations of the surname MacKilcowley
The surname MacKilcowley has a wide array of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of MacKilcowley include Mac Kilcowley, MacKilfowley, Makilfowley, Makilcowley, MacGilfoyle, MacKillfoyle, McKillfoyle, McKillfowley, and Killfowley. The variants of this surname are all derivatives of the old Irish Gaelic surname MacGilfoyle.
The “Mac” at the beginning of the variants indicates that it is a patronymic name, meaning “son of Kilcowley.” As such, many of the surnames related to MacKilcowley begin with either Mac or Mc, such as MacGilfoyle and McKillfowley.
Other spellings of this surname include Mackilchemy, Makilchomy, Makilcumy, MacKilkemy, Makilkemy, Makilkemey, and MacKilcreame.
The surnames related to MacKilcowley may not be as widely-used, but there are still some variations of this name that can be seen in surname records. These include Makilcow, Makilcho, MacKilkemy, MacKilcheny, MacKilcazor, and MacKilcorny.
Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacKilcowley show that this name has had a long history and has been used in a variety of forms throughout the centuries.
Famous people with the name MacKilcowley
- McConkie MacKilcowley: American poet, playwright, actor, and teacher
- Bill MacKilcowley: former American football player who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams
- Kenneth MacKilcowley: American educator, philanthropist and patron of the arts
- Aileen MacKilcowley: Scottish actress
- Joe MacKilcowley: British actor best known for playing SB6 on CBBC
- Duncan MacKilcowley: Scottish actor, best known for his role as Mandy in the STV soap opera River City
- Duncan MacKilcowley, Jr.: Scottish actor, best known for his appearances in Doctor Who
- Charles MacKilcowley: British director, best known for directing the 2008 British comedy film The Boat That Rocked
- Ruth MacKilcowley: American singer and songwriter who served as a backup singer for Elvis Presley and recorded some of Presley’s songs
- Amber MacKilcowley: British actress, best known for her role as Carla in the British soap opera Coronation Street