McElmoyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The surname McElmoyle comes from the original Irish Mac Giolla Mhaoil, (devotee of St. Michael) from "maol" meaning tonsured or bald. 1

Early Origins of the McElmoyle family

The surname McElmoyle was first found in County Monaghan. The McElmoyle variants are distinct and are found in Antrim and Derry. 2 Over in Scotland, records are quite late as in "Mc illemayll 1636. Mary Ncllvoil, 1704, appears in 1706 as Mor Nclllimoile." 3 However, the same source notes an earlier spelling of "M'Ilmoil (M'Gille Mhaoil). An Islay surname now sometimes rendered [as] Bell. Donald M'Gillemoyll was a sufferer from the hership of Petty in 1502, and John Makmul was bowman in Lochalsh, 1548." 3 Furthermore,we would be sadly remiss if we did not mention the connection to the MacMillan family. The latter name was derived from the Gaelic name MacMhaolain or MacGhilleMhaoil, meaning "son of the bald or tonsured one." 3

Both distinguished authors cited here, one noting Irish heritage, the other Scottish do however, agree in the Gaelic meaning of the surname.

Early History of the McElmoyle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McElmoyle research. More information is included under the topic Early McElmoyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McElmoyle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacIlmoyle, MacElmoyle, McIlmoyle, MacIlmoil and many more.

Early Notables of the McElmoyle family

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

McElmoyle migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McElmoyle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William McElmoyle, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807 4

McElmoyle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McElmoyle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James McElmoyle and James McElmoyle Jr. who were recorded in the census of Ontario in 1871

The McElmoyle 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: Dieu Garda Le Moyle
Motto Translation: God protects the mule .

Citations +

MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)
MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)