Surname O'Hamill - Meaning and Origin
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O'Hamill: What does the surname O'Hamill mean?
The surname O'Hamill is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Ó hÓmail. This name is usually derived from two elements; firstly from O’, meaning “grandson or descendant”, and secondly from the Irish personal name Amhalghaidh, meaning “exalted”. In Ireland the name was brought to the province of Ulster by settlers from Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Gaelic form of the surname became the Magnashehil family, which was anglicised to MacGill. This MacGill family took the surname of O’Hamill.
The O’Hamill surname is believed to have originated in the region of East Donegal. In modern times the surname has spread to other regions of Ireland, with persons bearing the surname recorded in all parts of the country.
Today the O’Hamill surname is mainly found in counties Donegal, Antrim, and Londonderry. It is also found in other areas of Ireland and many of its bearers have emigrated to the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand.
In Irish culture, the O’Hamill surname is associated with a proud and independent people who lived in a distinct and isolated region of Ulster. The name is still common in Ireland today and is one of many Irish family names that has stood the test of time.
Whether your ancestors were an O’Hamill of East Donegal, migrated to another county in Ireland, or had emigrated to another country, it is likely that this proud Irish surname has a story to tell.
Order DNA origin analysisO'Hamill: Where does the name O'Hamill come from?
The last name O'Hamill is most common today in Ireland and other countries with Irish ancestry. Ireland has a long history of people with the O'Hamill last name. The surname O'Hamill is of Gaelic origin and is derived from the word 'Ua hAmeyll' which means 'grandson of Amhalghaidh'. The name dates back over 1200 years and has had significant presence in Irish history.
Many people with the surname O'Hamill emigrated from Ireland in the centuries before and during the Irish Famine, to countries such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. This gave rise to the presence of O'Hamill in many of these countries. Today, the surname O'Hamill is most common in the United States, followed closely by Canada and the United Kingdom. In particular, it is more common in the states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, which have particularly high percentages of Irish immigrants.
The vast majority of the individuals with the last name O'Hamill today are descendants of Irish families, although there are certainly people with the name of other nationalities. The surname is also still common in certain regions of Ireland, particularly in Counties Meath, Dublin, Louth and Westmeath, as well as in England, Australia and New Zealand where there are high populations of Irish descent.
Variations of the surname O'Hamill
The surname O'Hamill is a variant of the ancient surname Ó hAmmghalaigh, first found in County Galway of western Ireland.This surname ultimately originated from the Celtic personal name Amalghaidh, meaning “valourous”.
Variations of the surname O'Hamill include O'Hammill, O'Hamil, Hamill, Hamilton, Hammell and O'Hamell, with some other variants including O'Amhalghaidh, Hamel and Hamiell.
The variations of the Hamill surname could be found mainly in Scotland and northern Ireland. It originally began as a patronymic form of the surname and is most commonly found in the Ulster counties of Antrim, Derry, Galway and Tyrone.
The spelling of the surname varied greatly over the centuries, and in some instances it was even spelled phonetically.
The variation of O'Hamill is the Ulster-Scots version, which is the dialect of Scots spoken in Northern Ireland. The Ulster-Scots inflection of the name is a result of the lowland Scottish settlers and the advancement of the English language in this area.
The Hamill surname is found in several countries around the world. Variations of the name can be found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, the United States and parts of Europe.
Overall, the surnames of O'Hamill, Hamill, Hamilton, Hammell and O'Hamell all have very similar roots and can trace back to the same origin.
Famous people with the name O'Hamill
- Peter O'Hamill, Irish poet, screenwriter, and journalist, known for his Emmy-winning work for the United States Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
- Mary O'Hamill, Irish musician and actress best known for her role in 'Anchorman'.
- Greg O'Hamill, former Irish football player, featuring for the county Mayo side as well as the national team.
- Finbar O'Hamill, Irish voice actor, best known for his work as C3P0 in 'Star Wars'.
- Brian O'Hamill, Irish actor, best known for his recurring role in the Irish drama 'Fair City'.
- Jack O'Hamill, Irish athlete who competed in several Olympic Games.
- Dave O'Hamill, Irish actor, director, and producer, with multiple credits in Irish television and film.
- William O'Hamill, former Irish politician, who served as minister for Energy and Minister for Justice from 1994 to 1997.
- Eddie O'Hamill, Irish writer, known for his works on Irish history, culture, and religion.
- Conan O'Hamill, Irish comedian, best known for his stand-up comedy specials on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other digital platforms.