Surname McElray - Meaning and Origin
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McElray: What does the surname McElray mean?
The last name McElray is derived from the Irish clan name Mac Giolla Riabhaigh, which translates to “son of the gray servant” in English.
The Mac Giolla Riabhaigh clan originated in the province of Donegal, Ireland, and was a prominent gaelic sept or division of a clan in the 12th century. As with other mac surnames, McElray suggests that an ancestor lived on a small farm and was of marcher or borderland heritage.
The McElray sept is derived from the same root as the popular Irish surname MacLaren, and many of the records of the two surnames are related to the same family.
The McElray name is still popular today. The Donegal County Council in Ireland released its 2016 report on the distribution of the surname in the region and found it to be one of the most common surnames in the county.
McElray can also be found in the United States, where the distribution of this surname is slightly different than in Ireland. It is especially popular in the mid-western region, where many of the first immigrants with the surname settled in lthe mid-19th century.
The McElray name is still popular today, and its meaning still holds true after centuries of its use: son of the gray servant.
Order DNA origin analysisMcElray: Where does the name McElray come from?
The last name McElray is most common today in the United States. There are roughly 897 people that bear the McElray surname. There are records of the McElray surname as far back as the 1400's in England. This surname has also been found in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The McElray surname is also common in Canada and Australia, however, the vast majority of individuals who hold this surname live in the United States.
It is believed that the surname McElray has Scottish roots. It is derived from the Gaelic words “Mac”, meaning son, and “Giallràigh”, meaning servant of the stranger. The surname was used to identify individuals who were of Irish ancestry and who worked as servants of foreign visitors.
The surname has spanned multiple states throughout the US. In 1880, most McElray families were found in Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia. By 1940, most McElray families lived in Georgia, North Carolina and Delaware. In modern times, the highest concentrations of the McElray surname can still be found in Georgia, followed by North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
Today, the McElray surname continues to be shared by multigenerational families residing predominantly in the Southeastern United States. While it is now more common to find McElrays living across the entire country, individuals still bear this surname with pride.
Variations of the surname McElray
McElray is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Riabhaigh (McIlroy, McElroy, and many other spellings).
It is a common surname with several variants and spellings. The variants of McElray include Macalroy, Macalraith, Macalroi, Macelrae, Macelrey, MacElrea, Macelreay, Mac Gilrea, MacGilrae, MacGilraith, Macgilray, M’Elrea, M’Elrow, Macilraith, Macilreau, Macilray, Macilroi, Macilroy, McElrae, McElray, McElrea, McElrew, McEleary, McElroy, McElvrae, and Mcelwrey.
The different spellings of McElray developed in different regions throughout Ireland, Scotland, and England, and thus, there are regional and local variations as well. For example, the MacElray spelling is more common in northern Ireland and the McIlroy spelling is more common in Scotland.
The variations of McElray originated from different Celtic roots. These roots include Macgiolla Riabhaigh which is derived from the Gaelic translation of “son of the gray haired one,” Mac Choinnich which is derived from the Gaelic translation of “son of Coinneach,” Mac Giolla riabhaigh which is derived from the Gaelic translation of “Devotee of St. Riah,” and Mac Giolla reamhrain which is derived from the Gaelic translation of “Devotee of St. Raymond”.
While McElray is the main spelling and variant of this name there are many other spellings and surnames of the same origin. Regardless of the language, spelling, or origin of the surname, the meaning behind the name “son of the gray-haired one” is the common thread of the McElray surname history.
Famous people with the name McElray
- John McElroy: American politician who served as a Democratic Congressman from Kentucky from 1883 to 1893.
- Al McElroy: retired professional lacrosse player and member of the National Lacrosse and Canadian Lacrosse Halls of Fame.
- George McElroy: American silversmith who created many silver items, some of which are highly sought after today.
- Ken McElroy: a former professional baseball player who played for several teams, including the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres.
- Bill McElroy: a former Playboy magazine photographer, widely known for his highly-stylized photos of celebrities, models, and sports stars.
- Brad McElroy: an American actor, best known for his roles on the television shows Storm of the Century and Highway to Heaven.
- Tom McElroy: an American comedian, actor, and former all-star college baseball player for the University of Washington.
- Hilary McElroy: an American musician, songwriter, and stage actress, who has performed in several musical theater productions.
- Cheryl McElroy: an award-winning American journalist, author, and column writer, best known for her syndicated columnouts for the L.A. Times.
- Walter McElroy: a longtime congressman from South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, serving from 1955 to 1981.