Surname MacNamell - Meaning and Origin

MacNamell: What does the surname MacNamell mean?

MacNamell is a surname of Irish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Conmhaoil, which roughly translates to "son of Conmhaoil". The name Conmhaoil itself might be composed of two elements: the first, "con" meaning hound, and the second, "maol" meaning chief or chieftain. This may be interpreted as meaning 'hound of the chieftain', suggesting a faithful or valued follower of a leader. So, the surname MacNamell could mean 'son of the hound of the chieftain'. As with many Irish surnames, different variations and spellings exist such as MacConville, McConville, MacConnell and others. Please bear in mind that surname meanings can be speculative and depend on the historical and social context in which they arose.

MacNamell: Where does the name MacNamell come from?

The last name MacNamell is of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic "Mac Con Meadhghaill" which means "son of Conmhaol," a personal name with the elements "con" meaning hound and "maol" meaning bald or tonsured (having a part of the head shaved).

The surname MacNamell originated from the regions of Leinster and Connacht, where it was first recorded in the 15th century. The name was held by a sept of the southern Uí Neill who were lords of a territory in present-day County Cavan. Additionally, a clan named MacConmidhe, from which the name MacNamell was anglicized, was also powerful in Connemara during the late middle ages.

Today, the spelling variations of the surname MacNamell, such as McAnally, McAnelly, McEnelly, and McNally among others, indicate the continuation of the lineage worldwide. These names are found in many English-speaking countries including Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. MacNamell specifically, however, is quite rare and its usage is not widespread across a specific region.

Variations of the surname MacNamell

The surname MacNamell originated in Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Conmhaoil," meaning "son of Conmhaoil." This name could have several spelling variants due to a multitude of linguistic and historical factors, including translation from Gaelic to English, different dialects, and anglicization during various periods of Irish history.

Some possible spellings and variants of the surname MacNamell might include MacConville, McConville, McNamell, MacConway, McConway, McNamara, MacNamee, MacNamara, MacNally, and potentially others. Some surnames like McCarthy or McNeil, though similar in structure, have different origins and thus do not fall within the MacNamell variants.

Sometimes, the prefixes were dropped altogether, resulting in surnames like Namell, Conville, Conway, etc. Additionally, the prefixes could also be recorded in different forms such as "M'" or "M'c" instead of "Mac" or "Mc."

As this surname is of Gaelic origin, it could also be spelt in the traditional Gaelic way such as "Mac Conmhaoil." It's important to note that spelling variations and surname transformations happened over many centuries and would have been greatly influenced by various factors such as phonetics, regional accents, and the individual recorder's interpretation.

Famous people with the name MacNamell

• Ian MacNaughton: British television director
• Charles Macnamara: 19th century British soldier, businessman and Conservative politician
• Dianne Macnamara: Canadian-born British actress
• Adam MacNicol: New Zealand Olympic cyclist
• Audrey MacNamara: Canadian stage director
• Leslie MacNamara: Canadian television and film director
• David MacNaughton: Canadian diplomat and public servant
• Myles MacNamara: Canadian actor and artist
• Archie MacNaughton: Canadian ice hockey player
• May MacNaughton: British war artist and sculptor
• Anthony MacNaughton: British actor
• James MacNaughton: Canadian actor
• Jonathan MacNaughton: Canadian playwright
• Alexander MacNaughton: British scholar
• William MacNaughton: Irish-American film director
• Andrew MacNaughton: Australian rugby player
• Jean MacFarlane: British developmental psychologist
• Ewan MacGregor: Scottish actor
• John MacGregor: British Anglican priest
• Bob MacGregor: Scottish former professional footballer

Other surnames

MacNamee