Although these English-language (Anglicized) forms of the surnames are ultimately derived from Gaelic patronyms, they do not refer to the actual name of the bearer's father.
In some cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhalghaidh, and Irish Mac Amhalghaidh.
[5] The Gaelic surnames originated as a patronyms; however, they no longer refer to the actual names of the bearer's father's.
[5] In other cases, the surnames are derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacAmhlaibh or MacAmhlaidh,[3] or the Irish Mac Amhlaoibh.
[9] The table below shows data concerning racial-ethnic aspects of the surnames in the 2000 United States census.