Show ContentsMcIlvenna History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the McIlvenna family

The surname McIlvenna 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 McIlvenna family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McIlvenna 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 McIlvenna History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McIlvenna Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the McIlvenna family

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

Ireland Migration of the McIlvenna family to Ireland

Some of the McIlvenna 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.

Migration of the McIlvenna family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: James, John, Neil, Patrick, William MacIlvain all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Alexander, Charles, Daniel, John, Mary, Owen MacIlvaine all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.


Contemporary Notables of the name McIlvenna (post 1700) +

  • Dr. Ted McIlvenna (1932-2018), American Methodist minister, and cofounder, owner and president of The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS)
  • James McIlvenna (1864-1936), Scottish-born train engineer and politician in Ontario, Canada, Mayor of North Bay from 1915 to 1916
  • Major-General J. A. McIlvenna, British Director General of the Army Legal Services Branch on 6 Nov 1978
  • Stephen McIlvenna (d. 2014), British motorcycle racer who died on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course on 19 August 2014


  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)


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