Surname McCalib - Meaning and Origin
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McCalib: What does the surname McCalib mean?
The surname McCalib is considered to be of Irish origin, derived from the MacGille Mhaoil, meaning ‘man of devotion’ or ‘son of the disciple of the Lord’. The surname was common in the counties of Donegal, Tyrone and Armagh in Northern Ireland, as well as in parts of Scotland.
More generally, the prefix ‘Mc’ is derived from the Gaelic for ‘son of’, and is used to denote heritage, lineage, and family roots. Originally, people bearing this surname lived close to the religious sites of their ancestors.
The specific origin of the name McCalib is debated, and a number of theories abound. Some have suggested that the name is associated with a religious goad, or stick, which was used by early Celtic priests to motivate crowds to worship. Others suggest that the name is related to an ancient Celtic god, or possibly to a person of unusually devout religious faith.
Regardless of the exact origin of the name, it is clear that McCalibs have been proud of their heritage for centuries and have been distinguished by their dedication to family and faith. Many McCalibs are still found clustered in the same areas of Ireland and Scotland, living in close proximity to each other and to the religious sites which hold great significance to the family.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCalib: Where does the name McCalib come from?
The surname McCalib is particularly common in Ireland, especially in the counties of Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, and Tyrone. It is also found in Scotland, as well as in parts of Canada, particularly in Ontario and Alberta.
The surname has been around since at least the 16th century, though its exact origins are somewhat unknown. Some believe the surname is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Calbhaigh, which means son of Calbhach (Calbhach being another name for Cathal, the 12th century Irish king). Other theories suggest that the surname comes from the Irish Mac an Chalbhaigh ("son of the dove"), or from Mac Gille Chaluim ("son of the devotee of St. Columba").
Though it is most common in Ireland and within the broader Irish diaspora, the surname is also found in other parts of the world. In the United States, for instance, the surname can be found in states like California, New York, and Florida. In Australia, the surname is particularly common in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
The surname is also notable for being a part of the regimental name for several Irish regiments that fought for Britain during the First and Second World Wars. The regiments, which were formed by John McCalib (an Irish soldier who also served in the British Army), were known as “The McCalib’s Fusiliers” or “The McCalib’s Irish Regiment”. By the end of the Second World War, there were at least seven battalions in the regiment.
Overall, the surname McCalib is most common in the Irish counties of Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, and Tyrone, as well as in parts of Scotland, Canada, the US, and Australia. It is also a part of the regimental name for several Irish regiments that served with the British Army during the world wars.
Variations of the surname McCalib
The surname McCalib has many variants and spellings. It is mostly found in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the United States.
This surname is derived from the ancient Irish name Mac an Chalba, and its variants include McCalib, McCalep, McCalip, McCaley, McCalop, McCalev, McCaliff, and McCalliff, as well as some others.
In Europe, the surname is found most frequently in Northern Ireland where it is an anglicization of the Irish name Mac an Chalba. In some cases, the surname McCalib is also a variant of the Scots-Irish surname McAlpine.
In Scotland, the surname has been anglicized to McCalib, McCallip, and McCalop. It is most common in the Hebrides, the Lowlands, and the Borders, where it was found on the island of Alba during medieval times.
In the United States, the surname is much more common. The spellings McCalib and McCalip are the most common in the US, although variants such as McAllip, McCallep, McCalley, and McCaliffe have also been found.
Throughout all of its variants, the surname McCalib is found most frequently in the British Isles and the United States. It is a testament to the tradition of immigration and migration of peoples that the same family history could be found in both regions during the last few centuries.
Famous people with the name McCalib
- Rebecca McCalib: a model, actress and radio personality.
- Ryan McCalib: an American professional soccer player.
- Donald McCalib: a former mayor of San Francisco.
- Robert McCalib: an American writer, producer, and director.
- Tyrone McCalib: an American football running back.
- Don McCalib: an Australian comedian, actor, and writer.
- Joe McCalib: an American baseball pitcher.
- Norman McCalib: an American professional ice hockey player.
- Jennifer McCalib: an American television actress.
- David McCalib: a former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Aaron McCalib: an American professional soccer defender.
- Jonathan McCalib: a former professional baseball player.