MacSorley Surname
Approximately 241 people bear this surname
MacSorley Surname Definition:
Gaelic MacSomhairle 'son of Somhairle, ' or Somerled q. v. Alexander M'Sommarrli was cited in 1355 to give evidence regarding the lands of Glassrie in Argyllshire (HP., II, p. 139). He was probably a Lamont of Monydrain in Glassrie as some of this family used the name Macsorley for several generations, but eventually resumed the name Lamont.
Read More About This SurnameMacSorley Surname Distribution Map
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 103 | 1:3,519,019 | 197,606 |
| Canada | 37 | 1:995,827 | 74,831 |
| Scotland | 27 | 1:198,290 | 10,618 |
| England | 18 | 1:3,095,448 | 105,421 |
| Ireland | 15 | 1:313,929 | 10,911 |
| Peru | 15 | 1:2,118,942 | 25,723 |
| Northern Ireland | 12 | 1:153,753 | 8,250 |
| Wales | 10 | 1:309,453 | 16,869 |
| South Africa | 3 | 1:18,059,235 | 248,362 |
| Spain | 1 | 1:46,752,036 | 156,870 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 3 | 1:1,476,622 | 29,385 |
| Place | Incidence | Frequency | Rank in Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 | 1:50,218,684 | 817,899 |
MacSorley Surname Meaning
From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history
Gaelic MacSomhairle 'son of Somhairle, ' or Somerled q. v. Alexander M'Sommarrli was cited in 1355 to give evidence regarding the lands of Glassrie in Argyllshire (HP., II, p. 139). He was probably a Lamont of Monydrain in Glassrie as some of this family used the name Macsorley for several generations, but eventually resumed the name Lamont. The lands of Donald Machorle in the sheriffdom of Argyll were in ward, 1488 (ER., V, p. 330). Other spellings of this Donald's name are McChorle, 1449, and McCowirlee, 1451. In 1511 Angus Lawmont alias M'Quorle was infeft in the three merk lands of Achynchoys (Lamont, p, 31). The MacSoirles of Letterfinlay in Lochaber, later called a sept of Clan Cameron, descended from Somerled, armiger to John of Yla, earl of Ross and lord of the Isles. In 1456 Somerled, the son of John, son of Somerled the armiger, received from the lord of the Isles a davoch of the lands of Glennyves along with the office of toscheachdeora (crowner) of all the lands of John of Yla, except the lands pertaining to his foster-child, Lachlan Maclean of Doward (Innes, Legal antiquities, p. 81). Some writers on clan history make the Macsorleys a sept of Clan Cameron, but this Somerled had received his charter thirty six years before the Camerons of Lochiel are known to have had any connection with the district. John Maksorlye had a remission in 1524 (Cawdor, p. 147), and similar remissions were granted to Duncan and Angus McSorbe (an error for McSorle) (RSS., I, 4454). Duncan McCourle and his son Alexander witnessed a sasine at Kiman, 1571, and Gilbert McDonill VcSouerlie and John McDonchie VcSouerlie attested a sasine of 1577 (Poltalloch Writs, p. 143,190). Gillechallum M'Soirll was tenant of Kyngusie Moir in the lordship of Huntlie, 1603 (SCM., IV, p. 298). Ronnald McSoirle was one of those charged with holding the castle of Dunivaig against Bishop Knox, 1616 (Cawdor, p. 232), and Allane M'Sorrle and Sorll M'Sorll were among those killed by the Covenanters at Dunaverty, 1647 (HP., II, p. 256). Dod McSoirle in Bellvraid was charged with being an 'engager' on the royalist side in 1649 (IDR., p. 308). Hew M'Sorrill in Domiolgyne is mentioned in 1672 (HP., II, p. 210), Finlay M'Sorle and John M'Sorle in Balliwilling were denounced rebels in 1675 (ibid., I, p. 296), and Donald M'Hoirle was one of the Jacobite prisoners taken at Preston, 1716. McCorle 1563, M'Korle 1530, McKsoirle 1632, M'Sorlle 1647, McSorrill 1672, McSouarl 1577, VcSouerlie 1577. Other old spellings are: M'Coirl, M'Cordlie, Makcorly, M'Couerle, M'CouIl, M'Coullie, M'Soirl, M'Souarl.
This name is numerous in Co. Tyrone but rare outside Ulster. The Gaelic form MacSomhairle comes from a Scandinavian personal name and the first bearing it to come to Ireland were of the Scottish clan MacDonald:† in 1211 Ranal MacSomhairle, Lord of Argyle, invaded Ireland, landing in what is now Co. Derry, and another such invasion followed in 1258; later numbers of the clan came to Ireland as galloglasses and subsequently settled in the north of the country. The MacSorleys and the Mac Donnells of Co. Antrim became very closely allied and were a powerful element in the Ulster resistance to England up to 1600. Though the great majority of the many references to MacSorley to be found in Irish records over the centuries relate to Ulster we do meet them ocasionally elsewhere: for example John Mac Sawerley, a harper of note, was a landholder at Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, in 1571; four Mac Sorley families are in the Co. Tipperary Hearth Money Rolls of 1664 and another MacSorley family migrated from Co. Armagh to Co. Mayo in 1795. Alexander MacSorley was one of the Catholic martyrs: he was hanged at Derry in 1615. Patrick MacSorley editor of the “Irish Exile”, (1850-51) was prominent among the Young Irelanders transported to Australia.
*The Saurins were extensive landlords in Cos. Tipperary and Kilkenny in 1878, but the best known men of the name, e.g. William Saurin (1757-1839) the notable lawyer, were associated with Belfast.
†MacSorley is also a sept of the clan Cameron.
Mac Somhairle A branch of the Scottish clan MacDonald, this was one of the earliest galloglass families to settle in Ulster. SIF 140
MacSorley Demographics
MacSorley Political Affiliation
in United States
United States
Average
MacSorley Last Name Facts
Where Does The Last Name MacSorley Come From? nationality or country of origin
The last name MacSorley occurs in The United States more than any other country or territory. It may also be rendered as a variant:. For other possible spellings of this name click here.
How Common Is The Last Name MacSorley? popularity and diffusion
MacSorley is the 1,041,601st most common last name on a worldwide basis. It is borne by approximately 1 in 30,238,780 people. This surname is primarily found in The Americas, where 64 percent of MacSorley live; 58 percent live in North America and 58 percent live in Anglo-North America.
It is most common in The United States, where it is held by 103 people, or 1 in 3,519,019. In The United States it is most common in: Maryland, where 38 percent live, Mississippi, where 12 percent live and Texas, where 8 percent live. Beside The United States this last name occurs in 9 countries. It is also found in Canada, where 15 percent live and Scotland, where 11 percent live.
MacSorley Family Population Trend historical fluctuation
The prevalency of MacSorley has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people who held the MacSorley surname rose 10,300 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in Ireland it rose 500 percent between 1901 and 2014.
MacSorley Last Name Statistics demography
The religious adherence of those carrying the surname is chiefly Anglican (100%) in Ireland.
In The United States those holding the MacSorley last name are 12.05% more likely to be registered Republicans than The US average, with 58.82% registered with the political party.
The amount MacSorley earn in different countries varies markedly. In Peru they earn 32.98% less than the national average, earning S/. 12,992 per year; in United States they earn 10.45% more than the national average, earning $47,658 USD per year and in Canada they earn 6.25% more than the national average, earning $52,790 CAD per year.
Phonetically Similar Names
| Surname | Similarity | Worldwide Incidence | Prevalency |
|---|---|---|---|
| McSorley | 94 | 4,248 | / |
| Macourley | 89 | 1 | / |
| Maccorley | 89 | 1 | / |
| Macorle | 88 | 3 | / |
| Macurley | 82 | 53 | / |
| MacArley | 82 | 7 | / |
| Macorlly | 82 | 1 | / |
| Macorlay | 82 | 1 | / |
| MacCarley | 78 | 27 | / |
| Macaurley | 78 | 3 | / |
| MacHurley | 78 | 1 | / |
| Macurly | 75 | 74 | / |
| MacArle | 75 | 22 | / |
| Macarly | 75 | 2 | / |
| Macurle | 75 | 1 | / |
| Macurlay | 71 | 25 | / |
| Macaurly | 71 | 10 | / |
| Machorla | 71 | 3 | / |
| Macharle | 71 | 2 | / |
| Macorlla | 71 | 1 | / |
| Macurlly | 71 | 1 | / |
| Macarlay | 71 | 1 | / |
| Macurlie | 71 | 1 | / |
| MacArille | 67 | 10 | / |
| Macharlie | 67 | 4 | / |
| Mazorelle | 67 | 4 | / |
| Madsarlae | 67 | 2 | / |
| Macarelly | 67 | 2 | / |
| Macaurlay | 67 | 1 | / |
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Footnotes
- Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
- Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
- Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
- Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
- Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
- Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
- Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to MacSorley
- To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis