Surname MacNully - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacNully: What does the surname MacNully mean?
The last name MacNully is a Scottish surname that has been in use since the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The name is a variation of the Gaelic ‘Mac an Fhiodhlaigh’, which means ‘son of the woodman’, suggesting that the original bearer of the name was a woodworker.
MacNully quickly spread from Scotland to the northern counties of Ireland and even further afield, appearing as ‘MacNeely’ and ‘MacAnally’ in records dating from the 16th century. The surname then made its way to the United States, where it eventually evolved to ‘McNally’, ‘McNully’, and ‘MacNally’.
The surname MacNully has evolved over hundreds of years and has come to represent a strong connection to Scotland. It may have taken on different forms, but the roots remain the same, a reminder of the ancient and proud origins of the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNully: Where does the name MacNully come from?
The surname MacNully is most commonly found in Scotland. It originated with the surname Mac an Fhiolaire, which means 'Son of the poet or storyteller'. It is thought to have been used by families who followed the ancient custom of the bard, travelling from one area to the next performing stories and songs.
Today MacNully is a predominantly Scottish name and is most frequent in the central and northern regions where Gaelic traditions are especially strong. In Scotland it is not an especially common name, but there are still clusters of the family name in areas such as Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, Angus and Perthshire.
Outside of Scotland small numbers of the MacNully surname are to be found in England, Ireland and the USA. In England the name is particularly linked to Lancashire and Merseyside and is thought to have come with Scottish immigrants who moved to the area in the late 19th century seeking work. In Ireland the name is most common in Counties Mayo and Derry and in Ireland the MacNully name has been contemporary with Gaelic names since ancient times. In the USA there are small numbers of the MacNully name in the New York and Massachusetts area, again linked to Scottish immigrants who moved to the region in the late 19th century.
In short, the surname MacNully is still found in Scotland, primarily in the northern and central areas, as well as in England, Ireland and the USA, particularly in the New York and Massachusetts area.
Variations of the surname MacNully
The surname MacNully is a variation of several related forms of the same name, all originating from the Scottish Gaelic Mac an Fhulaidh meaning "son of the sea wolf". Most closely related to MacNully is the variant MacNulty, which can also be found in both English and Irish/Gaelic records.
Variations of the surname include MacNulty, McNulty, MacNully, McNull, MacNully, McNelly, MacNailand MacNall, and MacNowell. Additionally, the anglicised form of the surname often appears as McDonald. Languages like Irish and Scottish Gaelic are known to influence the spelling of surnames; spellings can be influenced by a variety of factors such as dialect, inflection of words, and pronunciation.
Variations within the name are also influenced by regional dialects. Variations of the same name can also be found in other languages, such as McNuIy in Scotland as well as MacNuile in Ireland.
In addition, some variations of the same surname may be found in the same geographical area. For instance, McNowell and McNowles are often found in England and Wales, particularly in the North East.
Despite the variations in the spelling of the surname, the origin and meaning remain unchanged. The name has been used for centuries, and the modern variations are often used without being aware of their link to the Gaelic original.
Famous people with the name MacNully
- Conan MacNully: Actor best known for appearances in movies such as Super 8 and Dallas Buyers Club.
- Ashley MacNully: Actress notable for roles in the TV shows Charmed and Masters of Sex.
- Debora MacNully: Emmy-nominated producer, notable for working on projects such as Big Little Lies.
- James MacNully: Canadian jazz guitarist, notable for his collaborations with jazz vocalist Diana Krall.
- Ryan MacNully: Professional golfer who won the Canadian Professional Golf Tour in 2006.
- Peter MacNully: Actor known for his roles in films such as 9 and River of Souls.
- Richard MacNully: British actor, best known for roles in films such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation.
- David MacNully: Former Major League Baseball player for the Oakland A's
- Jan MacNully: Australian author and journalist, best known for her book Rebecca and the Visitor.
- Stephen MacNully: Adjunct professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Toronto.