Surname McGilvoy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McGilvoy: What does the surname McGilvoy mean?
The surname McGilvoy is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Giolla Bhuí." In this Gaelic name, "Mac" means son of, "Giolla" translates to servant or follower, and "Bhuí" means yellow. Hence, the name McGilvoy roughly translates to "son of the yellow servant" or "son of the yellow-haired youth". This suggests that the original bearers of this name might have been noted for their service to a blond master, or they themselves could have been blond. As with many surnames, it functioned as an identifier, linking individuals to their familial lines, specific locations, or memorable ancestors. Surnames like McGilvoy have evolved over centuries, often undergoing changes due to migration and anglicization.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGilvoy: Where does the name McGilvoy come from?
The surname McGilvoy is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhuí, which means 'son of the yellow-haired youth.' It is an anglicized form of the original Gaelic name.
The spread of Irish surnames around the world followed the pattern of Irish emigration, and consequently, Irish names can now be encountered almost anywhere globally. Distribution of the McGilvoy surname in contemporary times is mainly found in Western countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, due to the extensive Irish diaspora in these places. The surname may not necessarily be 'common' compared to other surnames, but these are the places where one is most likely to encounter it.
Note that different spellings of the original Irish name have resulted in various forms of this surname like Gilwee, Gilloway, and others. The exact prevalence of the name McGilvoy therefore depends on whether one is counting these variant forms.
Variations of the surname McGilvoy
The surname McGilvoy is of Irish origin, likely derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Bhuí," that translates to "son of the yellow-haired youth." Variations of this surname can be based on phonetic translations from old Gaelic to English and may have evolved or been altered due to regional dialects and spellings over centuries.
Some possible variants or similar spellings could include McGillivray, McGilvray, McGillvray, MacGilvray, MacGillivray, MacIlvora, MacIlvorie, and even shortened versions like McGilvry, or Anglicized versions like Gilmore or Gilroy. Furthermore, the prefix "Mc" - meaning "son of" - can alternate with "Mac" depending on geographical areas and family preference.
It's vital to remember that due to discrepancies in translation and recorder errors, many Gaelic names have numerous different spellings even within the same document. Therefore, if you are searching for genealogical information, consider all possible variations. Also, the surnames and their variants can differ significantly depending upon the region in Ireland or Scotland.
Finally, it's worth noting that sometimes the "Mc" or "Mac" could be completely dropped in some records, especially during periods when it was less advantageous to be identified as Irish or Scottish. So, searching just for "Gilvoy" could provide some further leads.
Famous people with the name McGilvoy
- Pat McGilvray: former NFL Tight End
- Gail McGilvray: American actress
- Damian McGilvray: British actor
- Paulette McGilvray: Canadian Actress
- Joe McGilvray: Scottish professional footballer
- Vince McGilvray: former NHL player
- Martin McGilvray: Canadian actor
- Mickey McGilvray: Scottish footballer
- Michael McGilvray: Canadian television director
- Heather McGilvray: Canadian actress