This unusual and interesting surname, now chiefly associated with the Ulster county of Tyrone, is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "MacGiolla Mhaodhog", son of the devotee of (St.) Maodhog or Mogue, from "Mac", son of, with "giolla", literally translating as "servant, attendant, follower" (but used here in the transferred sense of "devotee"), and the obscure saint's name "Maodhog", believed to be synonymous with Maughold. St. Maughold is said to have been a robber who was converted by St. Patrick in Ireland prior to going to the Isle of Man as a missionary, where he became a bishop. Another Old Gaelic name "O'Maolmhaodhog" indicates devotion to this particular saint; translating as "descendant of the devotee of Maodhog", from "maol", bald, tonsured; the name is now Anglicized as Mulvogue, and though formerly numerous in Donegal and Connacht, is now rare. On October 18th 1865, the birth of Rose, daughter of James McElvogue and Rose Loughran was recorded at Dungannon, County Tyrone, and on June 6th 1865, the marriage of John McElvogue to Mary Hargin was recorded at Edinburgh Parish, Midlothian, Scotland. A son, Thomas, was born to James Mulvogue and Mary Coen, at Gurteen, County Sligo, on April 18th 1867. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Matthew McIlvogue, which was dated August 29th 1825, marriage to Jane Grant, at Magheralin, County Down, during the reign of King George 1V of England, known as "Prinny", 1820 - 1830. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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