Surname MacNalty - Meaning and Origin

MacNalty: What does the surname MacNalty mean?

The last name MacNalty originates from the Scottish surname Mac an t-Saoir, meaning “son of the mason” in Gaelic. The suffix “-ty” or “-tye” is often added to the end of many Scottish surnames to denote a particular area. Therefore, while the basic translation for the name MacNalty is still “son of the mason”, it may also refer to a particular region and family in those areas.

The MacNalty surname has often been associated with parts of the Scottish Highlands and Scotland’s West Coast, with members of the family living in this area over many generations. The earliest known occurrence of the name comes from records of births in Argyll, Scotland dating to the mid 1500s.

The spelling of the name has varied over the centuries, as scripts were not standardised until relatively recently. Variations of the name today include “Macnaulty”, “McNulty”, and “MacNulty”.

The MacNalty family is generally seen as a clan of farmers and fishermen, many of whom made their living from the land and ocean. They were typically reliable, hardworking people who took great pride in their work and their community. Today, members of the MacNalty family can be found all across the world, living and working in many prestigious positions.

MacNalty: Where does the name MacNalty come from?

The last name MacNalty is mostly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. According to the Forebears website, MacNalty is the 40,077th most common surname in the world, with an estimated 2,577 people worldwide bearing the name. The majority of those individuals (~2,180) are from Scotland, with the remainder mainly from Ireland and England, and a few occurrences in Australia and the United States.

Given the origin of the name, it likely has its roots in Scottish Gaelic. In Scotland, there are currently 460 families with the last name MacNalty, with the highest concentration in Inverness-shire—the most northerly county of Scotland. This suggests that the name is likely derived from the Gaelic words ‘mac’ for son and ‘naltaigh’ for summoner or challenger, indicating the family had those characteristics.

In Ireland, the MacNalty surname can be found primarily in Dublin and Cork counties, although it may have also originated from the Irish phrase ‘mac an tailltean’ which means 'son of the follower', indicating the family may have been followers of a larger clan or tribe.

The surname is rare, but its traceability back to two distinct cultures offers a glimpse into the past of the families now bearing the name MacNalty.

Variations of the surname MacNalty

The surname MacNalty is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac an Fhailigh, which means "son of the follower" or "follower of the law". This surname can also be spelled as Mac an Fhailligh, Mac Nalty, Mac Nulta or MacNulty. In Scotland, the spelling is sometimes MacNulty while in the U.S. it is most commonly found as McNulty. Other variant spellings and surnames associated with this name include MacNaltee, MacNalti, MacNalter, MacNaltey, MacNaltry and MacNalley.

MacNalty is also known to be an anglicized version of the Scottish surname MacGill, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac-gille-gun which means "Son of the servant of the church". Related surnames include MacGill, MacGillis, MacGillivray, MacGill, MacGille, MacGill, MacGillivray and MacGillespie.

Furthermore, some MacNaltys in North America may be descended from the Irish surname Mac an Uaille, which is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Conghaile. In addition to the usual MacNulty spelling, other variants of this name include MacNellis, MacNelly, MacNalley and MacNelly.

In conclusion, the surname MacNalty is a common Anglicized form of a number of different surnames with different origins. All of the variants mentioned here are related and share a common ancestor, but the exact origin of the surname depends on which Gaelic language was spoken by each family.

Famous people with the name MacNalty

• Ed MacNalty: Scottish international football player and manager
• Arthur Joseph MacNalty: British Army officer and scientist
• Alfred MacNalty: British colonial administrator and physician
• Patrick MacNalty: Canadian Member of Parliament
• Kathleen MacNalty: British novelist and dramatist
• John Michael MacNalty: British army officer and politician
• Lavinia Mary MacNalty: British painter
• Robert MacNalty: British general
• Alan MacNalty: British conservative politician
• William MacNalty: British colonial administrator
• Russell MacNalty: English international soccer player and manager
• Mary Ann MacNalty: Canadian playwright, and author of children’s literature
• Sadie MacNalty: English actress
• James MacNalty: Canadian diplomat and author
• Seamus MacNalty: Irish football player

Other surnames

MacNally