<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> le, Celtic genealogy, Gaelic genealogy, MacMillan name variant, MacMillan name-variant"> MCILVAIL AND THE CLAN MACMILLAN CONNECTION
CLANN 'IC 'ILLEMHAOIL ABRACH
Welcome! This Web page established 1997
This page is principally devoted to providing information about the connection between the McIlvail family in the U.S., including its present-day name variants of McInvale, McIngvale, McInvaile, McInvaille, and McInville, and Clan MacMillan, or to give the Clan its proper Gaelic name - Clan 'Ic 'Illemhaoil Abrach. As the information herein provided clearly shows, McIlvail is more than a mere name variant of MacMillan. McIlvail is one spelling of the original surname which was used by many Clan MacMillan members in past centuries. It is pronounced very nearly the same as the Clan name was pronounced centuries ago. Those of us in the U.S. who have one of the present-day name-variants of McIlvail have as much claim to be included among those having a recognized Clan MacMillan surname as any of those persons with one of the almost 200 recognized name-variants of MacMillan.
In the event that you have any questions or comments relating to this page or its contents, please email me, Reid McInvale, at reid.mcinvale@gmail.com
Research and text provided by Reid McInvale. Thanks especially to Graeme Mackenzie, Clan Archivist & Genealogist, who provided some of the information contained on this page.
By either scrolling or by clicking on the appropriate link on this web page you will find information about the following:
Clan MacMillan Center in Scotland
Clan MacMillan Archivist and Genealogist
Clan MacMillan in Ontario, Canada
Bibliography of books on Clan MacMillan
Excerpt from book Ulster Surnames', by Robert Bell
Summary of information from book 'Book of Scottish Surnames', by Black
Excerpt from book 'Clans of the Scottish Highlands', by McIan
Excerpt from book 'The MacMillans and their Septs' by Somerled MacMillan
Excerpt from publication 'Argyll Colony Plus'
Summary of information in 'Irish names and surnames', by Patrick Woulfe
OTHER RELEVANT WEB PAGES:
Links to other Clan MacMillan related web pages
E-mail: Macmillan_Centre@compuserve.com
Graeme M. Mackenzie, M.A.,
Clan
Archivist & Genealogist
c/o MacMillan Clan Centre, Finlaystone, Langbank,
E-mail: Macmillan_Centre@compuserve.com
W.Dugal MacMillan, c/o Clan MacMillan,
37 McDonald St.,
E-mail:
This gentleman is very helpful, and was the first Clan MacMillan authority to confirm for me that McIlvail is a verified name-variant of MacMillan.
Bibliography of books on the history of Clan MacMillan:
Somerled MacMillan, 'The MacMillans
and their Septs',
Somerled MacMillan,
'Bygone Lochaber',
Somerled MacMillan, 'Families of Knapdale',
Christopher W. McMullen, 'The MacMillan Endeavor',
Present address: Rev. Chris McMullen 7317 Lepreau
Village Road, Lepreau, N.B. E5J 1L3
Former address:
Graeme M. Mackenzie, 'Origins of the Lochaber Macmillans and the Descent of the Families of Murlaggan and Glenpean'. Available through the Clan Centre.
MacIlveil and MacGilveil
are listed under
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EXCERPT FROM 'BOOK OF SCOTTISH SURNAMES', BY BLACK: Excerpt:
"McGilveil, a sept
of Clan Cameron (Buchanan, p. 97)- McGilveill, a
follower of Murdow Mcloyd
on his attack on the galley of the Laird of Balcomie,
1600 (RPC., XIV, P. CXXiii). Lauchlane
M'Ilveoll alias M'Dougall
was among those murdered at Dunavery, 1647 (HP., II,
P. 257). Duncan M'Ilvoyle in Dunstaffnage, 1618 (SASINES, II, P.23). David M'ILwoyll, merchant burgess in
Dumfries, 1661 (
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NORTH CAROLINA ARGYLL COLONY PUBLICATION, ARGYLL COLONY PLUS': Volume 2, page 10: name McIlvoil listed as obsolete Gaelic surname in Jura baptism records. Says derived from 'Mac Ghille Mhaoil', meaning 'son of tonsured one' in Gaelic language. Tonsure is haircut of an ecclesiast and refers to the bald spot on top.
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'THE CLANS OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS', BY R.R. MCIAN, pages 145-146, 'Clann Ghille Mhaoil - The MacMillans', published 1845. Summary:
States that the MacMillans in Locaber, or the 'Clan Ghille Mhaoil Aberaich', latterly dwelt in Muir Lagan, Glean Spean and Caillie and they were the followers of Lochiel, Chief of Clan Cameron.Note that this information corresponds to the information provided in the 'Surnames of Scotland', by Black. The MacMillan chapter in McIan's book provides interesting information about the history of the clan, including references to clan fueds.
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THE MACMILLANS AND THEIR SEPTS', by the Rev. Somerled MacMillan. Chapter II, pages 14-15, published in 1952 by the late Clan Bard, the Rev. Somerled MacMillan. The book is now out of print. Excerpt:
"NAME VARIANTS, AN EARLY GENEALOGY, AND THEIR FIRST LOCATION.
The name MacMillan is of ecclesiastical origin,
the progenitor of the clan being one of the clergy belonging to the Culdee order of the Celtic church. The Culdee
clergy, unlike those of the Roman Church, did not practise
celibacy. Their abbots differed from the Augustinians in this respect that
their office was a hereditary one and, unlike their powerful usurpers, had no
lay order. It was only with the coming of the
Now, let us look at a host of name variants at the very outset, as this will
save further explanatory remarks as we go along. First of all, let us consider
a number of name variants in Gaelic, as they appear in different records
throughout the centuries: An Gillamaol, Gille-na-maoile, Mac-na-maoile,Macmoil, McIlmoil, McIlmoill, McGillemoill, McGillemoyll, Makgillemuil, Mac'illemhaoel, MacIllemhool and MacGhillemhaoil. We also meet with several other forms of
spelling the name such as : Qwhewyl, Chewill, Kevoil, MacKevoil, Macgilveil, McIlveile, McGilveill, McIlveall, McIlveoll, McIlvoyle, McUlvoyll, McIlwoyll and McIllywoul.
The earliest attempt at spelling the name in Latin is mac
Molini' as it appears in the Book of Deer. Later it
is given as McMolene and Makmolene
(See Register of the Great Privy Seal- 1309). Later it is given as McMolene and Makmolene and
finally as Mac millani. Another Gaelic form in common
usage by certain mainland groups and those of Skye and
1 5
In the Parish lists of Wigton-shire and Minnigaff we have the following spellings,:-McMolland in 1606 and Makmillan in 1644. In 1745, we have the name spelt in a variety of ways such as McKmillan, McMilland, McMullen, MacMylan and MacMyllan. To-day, we have the usual forms such as Macmillan, MacMillan, McMillan, McMullen (Irish form), and MacMillian.
Several of our Highland Clans claim descent direct
from Airbertach but only in the geneology
of the MacMillans are we given details of the
location of his descendents. It clearly states that he had 12 tribes or septs inhabiting the territory now defined as Mull, Tiree and
Now, it is believed that those Nordic reivers only began to consolidate their gains about 880-887 A.D., and it must have been some considerable time before Airbertach and his progeny began to colonize those islands.
He may have come over to
Guaire (meaning ' noble ') was the progeniter of the MacQuarries who have been associated with Ulva's Isle for centuries.
Genealogy of the MacMillans. Malcolm the young, son of Malcolm mor, son of Maolmuire (Myles), son of Cainn, son of Dougall, son of Malcolm, son of Gillchrist called an Gillamaol (or the tonsured servant) from whom are the Clann an Mail (or MacMillans) son of Cormac son of Airbertach aforesaid."
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'The Scottish People: Their clans, families
and origins'. by James Alan Rennie, page
182-183.
Racial Group: Pictish
Gaelic Name: Clann Mhic Gille Mhaoil
Origin: Possibly descended from Gilchrist, son of Cormac who was first diocesan bishop of Dunkeld, circa 1132.
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'Irish names and surnames', by Patrick Woulfe, page 376. Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1967.
Refers to the name 'Mac giolla Maoil', 'son of the bald lad'. Says
an
Also refers to the name 'Mac Maolain', 'son of Maolain'. 'Maolain' said to be diminuative of 'bald'. Name of Irish Lord of Gaileang Greagh in 12th century. The name is now known in N.E. Ulster, also Scottish.
Links to other Clan MacMillan related web sites:
The official Clan MacMillan web page in Scotland
Clan MacMillan, Pacific Branch, Southern District web page
CSWSC - Scottish Clans web page
Scottish Clans surname FAQ web page