McIlmoyle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

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

Early Origins of the McIlmoyle family

The surname McIlmoyle 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 McIlmoyle family

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

McIlmoyle Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the McIlmoyle family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

the McIlmoyle family of Antrim

McIlmoyle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McIlmoyle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John McIlmoyle U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4

Contemporary Notables of the name McIlmoyle (post 1700) +

Henry A. McIlmoyle, American politician, Representative from New York 31st District, 1914 5
General Gerald Eugene McIlmoyle (b. 1930), US Air Force officer
Hugh McIlmoyle (b. 1940), Scottish former professional footballer

The McIlmoyle 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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html