Show ContentsMcConville History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the McConville family in Ireland was Mac Conmhaoil.

Early Origins of the McConville family

The surname McConville was first found in the county of Derry, where they held a family seat, some say, they were descended from the Cenel Eoghain, (Clan Owen) the great northern tribe who were descended from Eoghan, son of King Niall of the Nine Hostages, (who lived about 365 A.D.) progenitor of the O'Neills. This ancient and distinguished tribe settled in Tyrone and Derry.

Early History of the McConville family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McConville research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1620 and 1845 are included under the topic Early McConville History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConville Spelling Variations

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person's name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname McConville are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include McConville, McConvill, McConwell, McConwel, Conwell, Conville, Convill, Convilles, Conwells, MacConville, MacConvill, MacConwell and many more.

Early Notables of the McConville family

More information is included under the topic Early McConville Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConville Ranking

In the United States, the name McConville is the 12,378th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States McConville migration to the United States +

The 19th century saw a great wave of Irish families leaving Ireland for the distant shores of North America and Australia. These families often left their homeland hungry, penniless, and destitute due to the policies of England. Those Irish immigrants that survived the long sea passage initially settled on the eastern seaboard of the continent. Some, however, moved north to a then infant Canada as United Empire Loyalists after ironically serving with the English in the American War of Independence. Others that remained in America later joined the westward migration in search of land. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, though, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America, and those who arrived were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. In fact, the foundations of today's powerful nations of the United States and Canada were to a larger degree built by the Irish. Archival documents indicate that members of the McConville family relocated to North American shores quite early:

McConville Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bernard McConville, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1860
  • David McConville, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1870

Australia McConville migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McConville Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Henry McConville, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Bucephalus"
  • Miss Jane McConville, (b. 1845), aged 18, Irish settler travelling from Queenstown, Ireland aboard the ship "Golden Empire" arriving in Brisbane, Australia in July 1863 2

New Zealand McConville migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McConville Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John McConville, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 3
  • Miss Susan Mcconville, (b. 1843), aged 20, Irish domestic servant from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 4
  • John McConville, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 5
  • Jane McConville, aged 26, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 5
  • Hannah McConville, aged 1, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Eveline" in 1865 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McConville (post 1700) +

  • Leo McConville (d. 1968), American jazz trumpet player
  • Brendan McConville (b. 1965), American professor of history at Boston University
  • Bernard McConville, American screenwriter, active in the 1920s-40s
  • James McConville, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1912 6
  • C. N. McConville, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 1st District, 1935-38 6
  • Tommy McConville (1946-2013), Irish professional footballer
  • Oisín McConville, Irish Gaelic footballer
  • Michael Anthony McConville MBE. H.M. (b. 1925), British diplomat to the Diplomatic Service, Ottawa, Canada, and later British Consul General, Zagreb
  • Cameron McConville (b. 1974), Australian V8 Supercar racing driver
  • Peter McConville (b. 1958), former Australian rules footballer


The McConville Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Age in aeternum
Motto Translation: Do forever


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Ships List Passenger Lists Ship Golden Empire (Retrieved 26th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.ozlists.com/genies/shipping/special_lists/s_golden_empire.htm
  3. Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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