Surname McVail - Meaning and Origin
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McVail: What does the surname McVail mean?
The last name McVail is of Scottish origin. It is a variant of the surname MacPhail, which is comprised of the Gaelic elements "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Phàil", a personal name of uncertain meaning possibly derived from "Paul". Thus, McVail could potentially mean "son of Paul". Like many Scottish surnames, McVail is also associated with a clan system. However, specific historical or occupational significance attached to the surname McVail is not readily available. As it is a relatively rare surname, individuals bearing it may find a common ancestry. It's also important when researching family histories to consider potential variations in the spelling of the surname as they could have changed and evolved over time.
Order DNA origin analysisMcVail: Where does the name McVail come from?
The surname McVail is of Scottish origin and is commonly considered a variant of the name MacPhail, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Phàil" meaning "son of Paul." The ancestors of the McVail family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called Dalriadans from the western coast of Scotland and the Hebrides islands. The name McVail surfaced in literature for the first time on the western coast of Scotland and on the Isle of Arran, belonging to a lineage dating back to ancient kings.
The McVails were traditionally known as followers of St. Fillan, an Irish saint who traveled to Scotland in the 7th century. Some McVails also identified with the Maccabees, hence the variant name Macabie or McVee.
Today, McVail is a relatively rare surname, making it difficult to determine where it is most common. However, due to emigration patterns from Scotland during the 18th and 19th centuries, it potentially has a larger presence in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as its country of origin, Scotland.
Variations of the surname McVail
The surname "McVail" appears to be of Scottish and possibly Irish origin. Variations and alternate spellings of the name may derive from phonetic spelling or regional dialects.
In addition to "McVail," it may be found as "MacVail," "MacVayle," "MacVeil," or "MacVaile" -- using the traditional Scottish prefix "Mac," which means "son of."
In Irish forms, it could be written as "O'Fáil" or "Ó Fáil," where "Ó" or "O'" indicates "descendant of." However, it should be noted that there's some debate over these Irish origins of the surname.
Further variations may don't use any prefix at all, such as "Vail" or "Veil."
Different surnames may be similar in pronunciation or representation such as "McVeil," "McVeale," or "McPhail." However, their connection to "McVail" cannot be affirmed without further genealogical research. One must be cautious in linking surnames together based solely on phonetic similarity, as surnames can have distinct origins and denote different ancestral lines. For instance, "McVeigh" and "McAvail" might sound similar, but the former is typically associated with Irish lineage, while the latter is more commonly linked to Scottish heritage.
Famous people with the name McVail
- Doug McVail: former professional ice hockey player.
- Morrow McVail: American poet, essayist and playwright.
- Fergus McVail: actor, best known for his roles in ‘Orphan Black’ and ‘The Expanse’ TV Shows.
- Doug McVail: former professional Major League Baseball player.
- Rick McVail: founder and director of the McVail Conservatory of Music.
- Kevin McVail: retired American football player in the National Football League.
- Patrick McVail: Poet, Author, and Editor of ‘American Literary Magazine.’
- Taylor McVail: host of the nationally syndicated television show ‘Focus on the Family’.
- John McVail: President of the British Columbia Assocation.
- Bruce McVail: Canadian swimmer who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.