Surname MacQuilly - Meaning and Origin
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MacQuilly: What does the surname MacQuilly mean?
The last name MacQuilly is derived from the Irish Mac U illí, meaning “son of Ulí”. Ulí (or Uillí) is a personal name that derives from the Gaelic uill, meaning “anger” or “fury”. As such, the name is most likely a patronymic descriptor, meaning the original bearer of the surname was the son of an ancestor whose primary characteristic or trait was associated with this emotion. The MacQuilly surname is most common in the county of Donegal in Ireland, which is located in the upper northwest part of the country.
The MacQuilly surname is thought to have originated in the mid 1500s, and the family primarily resided in the Muintir Uillí, the territory they held in the townland of Ballymacquill in the parish of Inniskeel, Cúige Uladh (Ulster). This family was composed of local farmers and landlords who primarily lived off of sheepherding and fishing. They maintained their presence in this area through the 19th century, although the majority of the family had migrated to nearby Scotland, England, and the United States by that point.
Although its etymology is uncertain, the last name MACquilly is thought to be a variation on the clan name MacUillí. This is an Irish name that has been passed down through generations of families, signifying in many ways the spirit and identity of the early Irish people. Far from being just another surname, MacQuilly represents a distinct and proud heritage that has endured for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacQuilly: Where does the name MacQuilly come from?
The Macquilly surname has its origins in Ireland, and today the surname can still be found there, as well as in other parts of the United Kingdom. However, it is also common in other countries around the world, particularly in Australia and the United States.
In Ireland, it is found mainly in counties Cork and Antrim. In Australia, Macquilly is relatively common in the states of Queensland and Victoria. In the United States, the Macquilly surname is mainly from those of Irish descent, and the most common areas where it is found are Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts.
In addition to these countries, the Macquilly surname is also found in Scotland, Canada, and South Africa.
Overall, the Macquilly surname is not particularly common, and is spread throughout various parts of the world. Due to the Irish origins of the surname, it is most commonly found amongst those of Irish descent, but individuals with this surname can also be found in other countries where Irish immigrants have arrived in recent decades.
Variations of the surname MacQuilly
The surname MacQuilly is derived from the Irish clan name Mac Uilliam and can be found in Scotland and Ireland. There are multiple variants and spellings of the MacQuilly surname. These names all originated from the Gaelic surname “Mac Uilliam.”
The most common variants of the surname MacQuilly are:
MacQuillan,
MacCollin,
McCillin,
McQuillin,
McQuillan,
McQuillen,
MacGuillan,
MacGuillen,
MagGuillan,
MacGillan,
MacGillen,
McGillen, and
McGillan.
The most common surname variations of MacQuilly can also be found in Scotland—including MacQuilliam, McCuilliam, McKwiliam, MacCwiliam, MacCulley, McCulley, Mackwilley, MacQuille, McQuilliam, McCilliam, McCuilley, McQuilley, MacGulley, MacGille, MacGilliam, and MacGillett.
Other variations and spellings of the surname MacQuilly include MacQuilley, MacQuilkin, MacQuillie, MacQuilie, MacWhilley, MacQuillan, McQuilkan, and M’Killam.
Overall, there are a multitude of different variants, spellings, and surnames that can be derived from the collective family name MacQuilly.
Famous people with the name MacQuilly
- Paul MacQuillan: Professional soccer player
- Manson MacQuilly: Olympic running athlete
- Sean MacQuilly: Professional marathon runner
- Robert MacQuilly: Harvard professor
- Alice MacQuilly: Award-winning actress
- Terence MacQuilly: Chess grandmaster
- Mark MacQuilly: Music producer
- Karyn MacQuilly: Biochemist
- Jodie MacQuilly: Disc jockey
- William MacQuilly: Author