Show ContentsMcIlvaine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the McIlvaine family

The surname McIlvaine was first found in Dumfries where Thomas Makgilvane was a tenant under Douglas in the barony of Buittle in 1376. The name was derived from the Gaelic Mac Gille Bheathain, meaning 'son of the servant of S. Beathin' (Bean). There are many spelling variations of the name due to the English translation from Gaelic. John Mcilmeyne was a witness in Dumfries in 1477 and Gilbert Makilmeyn de Grummat was listed here in 1503. 1

Allan McYlveine de Grumet who appears as bailie of the Abbey of Crossraguel in 1523 is Alan Makilwene, juror on assize in the bailliary of Carrick in 1532. 1

Early History of the McIlvaine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McIlvaine research. Another 236 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1526, 1546, 1547, 1566, 1569, 1570, 1574, 1627, 1628, 1674, 1764, 1790, 1797, 1814, 1818, 1831, 1843, 1853, 1871 and 1882 are included under the topic Early McIlvaine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIlvaine Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacIlvean, MacIlvane, MacIlvenna, MacIlwain, MacIlwaine and many more.

Early Notables of the McIlvaine family

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

Migration of the McIlvaine family to Ireland

Some of the McIlvaine family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 191 words (14 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


McIlvaine migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McIlvaine Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J. H. McIlvaine, aged 44, who settled in America, in 1892
  • Hattie McIlvaine, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
  • Anna McIlvaine, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1895
  • A. McIlvaine, aged 23, who settled in America, in 1896
  • Hattie McIlvaine, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1897
McIlvaine Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mary McIlvaine, who landed in America, in 1907
  • M. McIlvaine, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
  • Eliz McIlvaine, aged 27, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1908
  • Fannie McIlvaine, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1908
  • Anna McIlvaine, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1908
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McIlvaine (post 1700) +

  • Joseph McIlvaine (1769-1826), American politician, U.S. senator from New Jersey
  • Jim McIlvaine (b. 1972), American NBA basketball player
  • Charles Pettit McIlvaine (1799-1873), American Episcopalian bishop and author, twice Chaplain of the United States Senate
  • Charles McIlvaine (1840-1909), American author and mycologist
  • Abraham Robinson McIlvaine (1804-1863), American politician, U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania
  • Joseph McIlvaine (1769-1826), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, 1804-21; U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1823-26 2
  • John W. McIlvaine, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 1953-55 2
  • George W. McIlvaine, American politician, Justice of Ohio State Supreme Court, 1871-81 2
  • Edward S. McIlvaine, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hunterdon County, 1830-33 2
  • Mrs. C. N. McIlvaine, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1924 2
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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