Surname MacElhone - Meaning and Origin

MacElhone: What does the surname MacElhone mean?

The last name MacElhone is a variant of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Dhomhnaigh. The literal translation of the name is “son of the servant of the Divine”. Traditionally this name was used to identify the descendents of a man who was a servant of a cleric of the Church of Ireland. The surname is derived from the pre 10th century Old Gaelic form of “Mac Giolla Domhnaigh” which is composed of the elements mac, which translates to mean “son of”, Giolla, which means “servant”, and Domhnaigh, which translates to “Daghna”, the name of an ancient Celtic deity, or “domain” which could mean “world” or “universe”.

The surname is found in Ireland in the counties of counties Mayo, Sligo and Kildare. While the spelling of the name changed across generations, it has largely remained a variant of the original version.

MacElhone and Mac Giolla Dhomhnaigh generally meant the same thing, and are used interchangeably. It is a very old, noble name that harkens back to the beginnings of Irish Christianity and the reverence for a higher power. It is believed that the name bearer served a particular cleric as a deputy, or priest-in-charge. The name is an honourable one, and is well respected in the Irish countryside.

MacElhone: Where does the name MacElhone come from?

The last name MacElhone is most commonly found in Ireland, particularly in Ulster. It has spread to other countries around the world as well.

The MacElhone surname traces back to Ulster Irish clans, houses, and septs, meaning people of the same name are related to each other through shared ancestry. The most famous MacElhone is probably Harry MacElhone, the famous Irish-American bartender. He was the bartender at Harry's New York Bar in Paris and is credited with creating a number of popular mixed drinks, including the Sidecar.

In the United States, the MacElhone name is concentrated in the states of Massachusetts, New York, and Texas. It is also found in a number of other states with Irish immigrant populations.

In the United Kingdom, the MacElhone name is quite rare; the most recent census in 2011 revealed fewer than 500 people with the surname. In Scotland, the name is most commonly found in the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Outside of the United Kingdom and the United States, MacElhone is most commonly found in former British colonial countries. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all have sizable populations of people with the MacElhone name.

At this point in time, the MacElhone name is scattered throughout the world, with most people having only very distant ties to Ireland and their Irish ancestry. It is a wonderfully globalized name, indicative of the global reach of the Irish diaspora.

Variations of the surname MacElhone

MacElhone is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Giolla Eoin, which translates to "son of the follower of John". The variations of the name is quite extensive with multiple spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The customary spellings for MacElhone include MacElhone, MacEloon, MacElhune, MacLehone, MacLehune, and MacLehuney. The variant spellings of MacGiollaEoin are MacGill eoghain, MacGill eoin, MacGillony, MacGiloon, MacGilhayne, and MacGilhaney.

The surnames of the same origin derived from MacGiollaEoin include the Irish versions MacKeown, MacKeon, McKeown, and McKeon; the Scottish variations MacKewen, MacKinnon, and MacKinnen; along with MacEoin, MacEwan, MacKouen, McKeuan, McKeuen, and McColhoun.

MacElhone is a current surname that remains prevalent today with a large domination in the Irish counties of Tyrone and Donegal, and is also commonly found in Scotland, as well as England and other parts of the British Isles. It is also a common name in North America where many descendants of the Irish and Scottish are now living.

Famous people with the name MacElhone

• Harry MacElhone: Harry MacElhone (1889–1958) was a Scottish barman, restaurateur, and author, known for starting Harry's New York Bar in Paris, France. MacElhone also authored five books on whiskey and bar culture.
• Alphonso MacElhone: Alphonso MacElhone (1852–1929) was a French-born chef and restaurateur who specialized in seafood dishes. He started the MacElhone Restaurant in London, which was known for its oyster dishes.
• Neil MacElhone: Neil MacElhone (born 1974) is a Scottish footballer who has played for several teams, including Dundee United and Celtic in Scotland and the New England Revolution in the United States.
• Walter MacElhone: Walter MacElhone (1889–1962) was a Scottish tugboat captain who wrote several books about his life as a tugboat operator and sailor.
• Donald MacElhone: Donald MacElhone (1919–2014) was an American bacteriologist who made several significant contributions to the field, particularly in the area of disease control.
• Bill MacElhone: Bill MacElhone (1933–2013) was an American record producer and music executive. He produced records by several iconic artists, including Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
• Colin MacElhone: Colin MacElhone (1924–1995) was a Scottish author and journalist who wrote several books on fishing and hunting in Scotland.
• George MacElhone: George MacElhone (1841–1919) was a Scottish-American restaurateur and author. He was the founder of the renowned McElhone's Bar and Restaurant in Paris, France.
• David MacElhone: David MacElhone (1945–2014) was a Scottish sailor and oceanographer who is known for his work on the Antarctic. He was also a noted historian and author.
• Jean MacElhone: Jean MacElhone (1912–1977) was a French fashion designer and haute couture pioneer who opened several fashion houses in Paris.

Other surnames

MacElholmMacElhoseMacElhoyle