Surname MacNicholl - Meaning and Origin
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MacNicholl: What does the surname MacNicholl mean?
The last name MacNicholl is an anglicised version of the Gaelic name Mac an Fhionaich. This is an old-fashioned name, believed to have been first used in Scotland and the Scottish Highlands in the 1700s. The root of the name is Mac, which generally means ‘son of’ in Gaelic. The suffix, an Fhionaich, suggests that the original ancestor who first used this name was a huntsman. It is originally an occupational name, suggesting the trade of the founder of the family line. It is also likely that the family name is derived from the Gaelic term ‘Fionnach’, which means fair, brave or wise.
The name MacNicholl can be found in parts of Scotland as well as in Ireland, particularly in counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Limerick, which are places where the Gaelic language was historically spoken. In Scotland, the name is less common - in 1881, there were only 26 families who used this name in Scotland. Today, it is more frequently found in Ireland, suggesting that the family descended from society in Ireland, rather than Scotland.
The MacNicholl family is likely to have had a long history of success and professional achievement. The name suggests a brave, wise and courageous ancestor, which is likely to have been reflective of the family line. MacNicholls were likely to have been well respected and well-regarded as a result of their virtue and tenacity.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNicholl: Where does the name MacNicholl come from?
The last name MacNicholl is most common today in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. It has also been found in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and South Africa.
In Scotland, the MacNicholl name is most frequently found in the Fife, Perthshire, and Angus regions. There, many of the original MacNicholls moved in the mid-1700s due to the increased wages of the industrial revolution.
In Ireland, the surname is most popularly associated with County Donegal, where many of the earliest forms of the name originated.
In the United States, the surname can be found in various places across the country. There is also a concentration of MacNicholls on Long Island, possibly due to the high volume of Scots and Scots-Irish immigrants who moved there during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and British Columbia have significant numbers of MacNicholls. Many of Canada’s MacNicholls are likely descendants of immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, and England.
Finally, the name MacNicholl is frequently found in Australia, especially in the cities of Perth and Melbourne. In Perth, the surname is often associated with Scottish emigres who moved to the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Melbourne’s MacNicholls can trace their lineage to the waves of Scottish and Irish immigrants that moved to Melbourne in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname MacNicholl
The MacNicholl surname has a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spelling is MacNicol, which is an Anglicized version of the original Gaelic spelling MacNiocail. This surname is also sometimes spelled MacNickle, MacNickel, and MacNickell. Other Scottish variants of the surname include MacNaechiell, MacNaichall, and MacNicall. There are also a few Irish variants, which include MacNeachail, MacNeachall, MacNeiceall, and MacNeiceall.
In addition, MacNicholl may be rendered as Nicholl, Macnicolls, Niccolls, MacNickol, McNicoll, and MacNicol. There are also alternate spellings for the Irish variants, such as Mac Neachail, Mac Neachall, MacNeiceall. Additionally, the variants MacNichol, MacNichel, and MacNicolls are also found in Ireland.
Additionally, there are alternative English variants of the surname, such as Nicholls, Nicholson, and Nicolson. These surnames could be confused with the MacNicholl name, since there is no difference in the pronunciation of these surnames. Nichol is also an alternate surname for MacNicholl, which is the most commonly used variation today.
Overall, there are many variations of the MacNicholl surname, some of which may be pronounced differently, but all of which are still of the same origin.
Famous people with the name MacNicholl
- Louise MacNicholl, Scottish actress
- Michael MacNicholl, British actor known for his roles in The Vicar of Dibley and Coronation Street
- Noam MacNicholl, Israeli footballer
- Kit MacNicholl, British singer, actor and radio presenter
- Stuart MacNicholl, Canadian visual artist
- Elspeth MacNicholl, British actress known for her roles in EastEnders and Black Adder
- Hamish MacNicholl, Northern Irish composer
- Ross MacNicholl, Scottish film and television editor
- Angus MacNicholl, Scottish voice actor
- John MacNicholl, British actor