Mac Amhalghaidh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mac Amhalghaidh |
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 Mac Amhalghaidh in Gaelic script |
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| Meaning | "son of Amhalghaidh", "son of Amhalghadh" |
| Language of origin | Irish |
| Popularity | Amhalghaidh Behind the Name |
| Wikipedia articles | All pages beginning with Mac Amhalghaidh |
Mac Amhalghaidh is an Irish surname, which is like a family name. It means "son of Amhalghadh" in English. Long ago, it was used to show someone was the "son of" a person named Amhalghadh. But today, it's just a family name.
For girls and women, the name changes a bit. If a girl isn't married, her surname is Nic Amhalghaidh. If a woman is married, her surname can be Bean Mhic Amhalghaidh or Mhic Amhalghaidh. This Irish surname has many Anglicised forms, which are ways it's spelled in English.
You might find a similar name in Scottish Gaelic, which is MacAmhalghaidh. Its feminine form is NicAmhalghaidh. There are also several other ways to spell Mac Amhalghaidh.
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What Does Mac Amhalghaidh Mean?
The name Mac Amhalghaidh means "son of Amhalghaidh" or "son of Amhalghadh" in English. It started as a patronym, which means it was a name based on a father's name. However, it doesn't mean the person's father is actually named Amhalghaidh today. The old Gaelic name Amhalghaidh (or Amhalghadh) is very old. We are not sure what it originally meant.
How the Surname Changes for Females
Mac Amhalghaidh is a surname used for males. For unmarried females, the surname becomes Nic Amhalghaidh. This form is a shorter way of saying "daughter of Mac Amhalghaidh".
For married females, the surname can be Bean Mhic Amhalghaidh. This means "wife of Mac Amhalghaidh". Sometimes, it's shortened to just Mhic Amhalghaidh.
Scottish Gaelic Version of the Name
The Irish surname Mac Amhalghaidh has a similar name in Scottish Gaelic. This similar name is MacAmhalghaidh.
For females in Scotland, this surname is NicAmhalghaidh. The "Nic-" part means "daughter of the son". So, NicAmhalghaidh means "daughter of MacAmhalghaidh".
Different Ways to Spell the Name
There are a few different ways to spell this surname. Here are some of the main ones:
Mac Amhalaí
A modern way to spell Mac Amhalghaidh is Mac Amhalaí. For unmarried females, it's Nic Amhalaí. For married females, it's Bean Mhic Amhalaí or Mhic Amhalaí.
Mac Amhalaidh
Another spelling is Mac Amhalaidh. Unmarried females use Nic Amhalaidh. Married females use Bean Mhic Amhalaidh or Mhic Amhalaidh.
Mac Amhalghadha
You might also see the surname spelled Mac Amhalghadha. For unmarried females, it's Nic Amhalghadha. For married females, it's Bean Mhic Amhalghadha or Mhic Amhalghadha.
Mag Amhalghaidh and Mag Amhalghadha
Other spellings related to Mac Amhalghaidh and Mac Amhalghadha are Mag Amhalghaidh and Mag Amhalghadha. For unmarried females, these become Nig Amhalghaidh and Nig Amhalghadha. For married females, they are Bean Mhig Amhalghaidh and Bean Mhig Amhalghadha, or simply Mhig Amhalghaidh and Mhig Amhalghadha.
English Spellings of the Surname
Many English spellings have come from the original Irish surname. These are called Anglicised forms. Some common English spellings you might see today include:
- Cauley
- Cawley
- Macally
- MacAlley
- MacAulay
- MacAuley
- MacAuliffe
- Maccally
- MacCauley
- MacCawley
- MacCowley
- MacGawley
- Magawley
It's important to know that some of these English names can also come from other Irish surnames. For example, Mac Amhlaoibh often became the same English spellings.
English forms of Mag Amhalghaidh and Mag Amhalghadha include:
- Gawley
- MacGaulay
- MacGawlay
- MacGawley
- Magawley
An English spelling of Mac Amhalaidh is MacGauley.
Important Families with This Name
Several Irish families have carried this surname. One very important family was known as the lords of Calraighe. They lived in what is now County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland.
According to a historian named Edward MacLysaght, the first important ancestor of this family lived in the 1200s. Their family tree is said to go back to Niall of the Nine Hostages. He was a famous, almost legendary, ancient High King of Ireland.
In Scotland, there is a different family called the MacAulays of Ardincaple. Their surname comes from MacAmhalghaidh, the Scottish Gaelic version. Their family history is a bit unclear, but their name might be connected to the early Earls of Lennox, who also used the name Amhalghaidh or Amhalghadh. The MacAulays of Ardincaple lived near Ardincaple Castle. This area was once controlled by the Earls of Lennox.
