Surname MacKilcash - Meaning and Origin
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MacKilcash: What does the surname MacKilcash mean?
The last name MacKilcash is derived from the Gaelic MacGilleChalluinn and originates in the Scottish Highlands. The literal meaning of this surname is "son of the fierce defender". It is believed to have stemmed from the even earlier name of Gilliechallum, which was a Haplandic clan name.
The first documented occurrence of the last name was in 1172, when it appears within the Charters of the Abbey of Holyrood. It also appears in a 12th century census of Inverness-shire, indicating a significant presence of the MacKilcash clan in the region.
Today, the MacKilcash clan is believed to be primarily composed of descendants of the original Haplandic Gilliechallum tribe. The people of the clan are fiercely proud of their Scottish ancestry and have maintained their traditional Highland customs. Many descendants of the original MacKilcash clan are dispersed throughout the world and there are active clans and organizations dedicated to connecting MacKilcash descendants and preserving the family's proud heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKilcash: Where does the name MacKilcash come from?
The last name MacKilcash is commonly found today in the places with dense Irish-American populations, such as the United States and Canada. Massachusetts, New York, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania are some of the states in the US that have an unusually high concentration of people with the MacKilcash surname. Similarly, Ontario and British Columbia are some of the Canadian provinces where this last name is relatively more common.
The MacKilcash surname is believed to have originated in County Kerry, Ireland. It is of the Anglicized form of the more ancient Gaelic name Mac Giolla Chathasaigh, which translates to "son of the devotee of St. Cathasach." It is a patronymic name and is associated with the ancient Irish clan of the Mag Shamhráin. It is believed that the progenitor of the MacKilcash clan was a distinguished priest of the diocese of Ardfert.
The MacKilcash name is still relatively rare though, with only 22 results in the White Pages search service in the United States as of 2021.
Variations of the surname MacKilcash
The surname MacKilcash has many variant spellings and surnames derived from the same origin. These include MacKilcahy, MacKilcasky, MacKilkache, and MacKilkassie.
The MacKilcash surname has its origins in Scottish and Irish (Gaelic) origins, derived specifically from the name Mac Giolla Chais. This name literally translates to the “Son of the Devotee of St Caiseal”. This family of surnames originated in the Irish counties of Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim, and the Highland area of Scotland, the Scottish Isles, as well as the County of Dumfries.
The MacKilcash surname can also be rendered MacGillcash, MacGillcashie, and MacGillachey. These variants developed in Scotland, particularly in the areas of Kilmarnock, Kilbirnie, and Ayrshire. Along with the traditional Gaelic spelling of the surname (MacGiolla Chais), these spellings are often attributed to the Kilcash family of County Mayo, and are still used today in areas such as Ireland and the United States.
The variants of the name linked to Scotland may have an origin in the Galloway branch of the Douglas family. The Douglas family held much of the lands in the area known as the “debatable lands” among the Scots and the English for centuries. The Douglas family possessed the lands until 1603 when King James VI of Scotland, later King James I of England, forced a peaceful resolution between the two parties and named the Douglas family as rightful owners of the lands, granting them control over the area.
The origin of the MacKilcash surname can also be attributed to the Famine immigrants who arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century. These families now form a predominately Irish American subset of the population.
The MacKilcash surname is an ancient one and is a reminder of the ancestral history of Scotland and Ireland. Throughout the generations, the name has taken on various spellings and variations, and is still used today.
Famous people with the name MacKilcash
- William Mackilcash: (1792–1830) Boston-based miniature painter and engraver.
- Thomas MacKillcath: (1713–1748) Irish lutenist.
- Kyla MacKilcash: (born 1989) Canadian TV director.
- Raymond MacKilcash: (1943–2015) American novelist, poet, and scriptwriter.
- Maynard MacKilcash: (1896–1974) American basketball coach.
- Roderick MacKilcash: (born 1966) Canadian songwriter.
- Moira MacKilcash: (born 1972) Australian Rugby League commentator.
- Jean-Pierre MacKilcash: (born 1988) Canadian multimedia artist.
- Abigail MacKilcash: (born 1992) British actress.
- Marlowe MacKilcash: (born 1991) American singer-songwriter.