From Where Does The Surname Originate? ^{meaning and history}

User-submitted Reference

In the 2009 Mulvihill Clan Gathering notebook, Jim Mulvihill succinctly wrote about the early Christian period of Celtic Ireland and God's warrior, Michael the Archangel. The Archdruid Ona's brother of the Uí Briúin clan adopted the name Maoilmichil around 460 AD. 'A befitting name for a newly baptized warlord that evokes the image of God's principal and most terrifying warrior', Jim wrote. A picture of Northern European lifestyle reminds me of that scene in the movie Gladiator when the Gauls come charging out of the pine forest to be slaughtered by the methodical Roman military machine. 'So, when are these guys going to know when to give up?' These were ferocious times when clans fought with invaders from Vikings to Anglo-Saxons from across the Irish Sea. However, Christianity was making an impact on Irish souls and culture. In time, Ireland would be dotted with monasteries of Christian monks who studied Scriptures and drew clerics from across Europe to join them. By the fourth and fifth centuries, missionaries were coming to Ireland evangelizing with the tenets of Christian love and the example of Christ's life and death. This process would take centuries. They may have brought with them many new tools, agrarian skills, ideas and literacy as well.By the time of Patrick and his followers in the seventh and eighth centuries, Ireland would rapidly become Christianized. Let us however, return to Michael, Maoilmichil and Mulvihill. Why this name for our clan? Well, Michael or Michael the Archangel means an angel of high rank, if God were to rank His angels. It is most likely, a human title. Because angels are supernatural beings and saints are believed to be holy persons who have died and are with God in heaven, the name Michael seems to be a misnomer. Another human concoction? I don't think you can have it both ways. Michael is an angel.Angels appear multiple times in the Scriptures, but only two have names. The angel who killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night because Sennacherib, their king, blasphemed God is unnamed. Only Michael and Gabriel are named. If there is a Michael Gabriel, Gabriel Michael or a Gabriel Mulvihill their name would be truly angelic. Sorry but I could not resist. In any event, Gabriel is the messenger angel and Michael is the 4 warrior/protector angel as they are used by God. Both appear once in the Old Testament and twice in the New. Gabriel helps Daniel to interpret his visions of the end times and in Luke, Gabriel appears to Zechariah and later Mary to inform them of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, respectively. Michael also appears in Daniel as his protector from the King of Persia, and in Jude as the warrior God uses to rebuke Satan. In Revelation, Michael leads God's angels to conquer the devil and his angels, and to expel them out of heaven. Quite an inspiration for a fifth-century warlord called upon to protect his clan and battle their enemies. Maoil Michil, the earliest named member of our clan, went to the top when selecting a name. And most people don't even know that Mulvihill is Irish. What a great heritage we Mulvihills have, beginning with our name.