Mac Amhalghaidh

Mac Amhalghaidh translates into English as "son of Amhalghaidh",[1] or "son of Amhalghadh".[2] The surname originated as a patronym, however it no longer refers to the actual name of the bearer's father. The personal name Amhalghaidh, also spelt Amhalghadh, is an old Gaelic name, and is of uncertain origin and meaning.[2]

Mac Amhalghaidh is a masculine surname. The form of this surname for unmarried females is Nic Amhalghaidh. This feminine surname is actually a contracted form of iníon Mhic Amhalghaidh, which translates into English as "daughter of Mac Amhalghaidh". The form of the surname for married females is Bean Mhic Amhalghaidh, which translates into English as "wife of Mac Amhalghaidh"; this feminine surname can also be represented in the contracted form Mhic Amhalghaidh.[3]

A cognate of the Irish Mac Amhalghaidh is the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh.[4] The feminine form of this Scottish Gaelic surname is NicAmhalghaidh. This feminine name is composed of the prefix Nic-, which is an abbreviated form of the Scottish Gaelic nighean mhic[5] or nì mhic,[6] which translates into English as "daughter of the son"; thus NicAmhalghaidh translates as "daughter of MacAmhalghaidh".

Mac Amhalaí

A modern variant form of Mac Amhalghaidh is Mac Amhalaí.[7] This surname is rendered for unmarried females as Nic Amhalaí. The form for married females is Bean Mhic Amhalaí, or simply Mhic Amhalaí.

Mac Amhalaidh

Another variant is Mac Amhalaidh.[8] This surname is rendered for unmarried females as Nic Amhalaidh. The form for married females is Bean Mhic Amhalaidh, or simply Mhic Amhalaidh.

Mac Amhalghadha

Another variant of the surname is Mac Amhalghadha.[1][9] This surname is rendered for unmarried females as Nic Amhalghadha. The form for married females is Bean Mhic Amhalghadha, or simply Mhic Amhalghadha.

Mag Amhalghaidh, Mag Amhalghadha

Variant forms of Mac Amhalghaidh and Mac Amhalghadha are Mag Amhalghaidh and Mag Amhalghadha.[1][9] These surnames are rendered for unmarried females as Nig Amhalghaidh and Nig Amhalghadha. The form for married females are Bean Mhig Amhalghaidh and Bean Mhig Amhalghadha; or simply Mhig Amhalghaidh and Mhig Amhalghadha.

There are numerous Anglicised forms of the surname. Anglicisations in use today include Cauley,[8] Cawley,[1] Macally,[10] MacAlley,[10] MacAulay,[10] MacAuley,[10] MacAuliffe,[10] Maccally,[10] MacCauley,[1] MacCawley,[8] and MacCowley,[1] MacGawley, and Magawley.[11] Many of these English-language surnames also have unrelated origins. For example, in many cases the Irish Mac Amhlaoibh has been Anglicised into identical forms.[1][11][12] Anglicised forms of Mag Amhalghaidh and Mag Amhalghadha include Gawley, MacGaulay, MacGawlay, MacGawley, and Magawley.[9] An Anglicised form of the Irish Mac Amhalaidh is MacGauley.[8]

The surname has been borne by several Irish families. The most notable of these was a particular family that was historically seated in what is today County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland. The leadership of the family had once been the powerful lords of Calraighe.[1] According to Edward MacLysaght, this family's eponymous ancestor of this family lived in the 13th century. A pedigree of the family is recorded stretching back to Niall of the Nine Hostages, a semi-legendary High King of Ireland.[11]

In Scotland, the unrelated MacAulays of Ardincaple (also known as "Clan MacAulay") derived their surname from MacAmhalghaidh, the Scottish Gaelic form of the surname.[2][4] The early ancestry of the MacAulays is uncertain, although their surname may ultimately be linked to members of the original family of the Earls of Lennox, who bore the name Amhalghaidh / Amhalghadh. The MacAulays of Ardincaple were historically seated at Ardincaple Castle, within territory dominated by the early Earls of Lennox.