Máel vs Gille

[McElmurry]

There are two terms used for servant or devotee of. Máel in its various spellings, and Gille in its various spellings. Máel seems to have come in to use a few hundred years sooner but they were both used in Ireland and Scotland. Is there a difference in the meaning of the two terms?

[figheadair]

I'm not sure about Irish but in Scots Gaelic the spelling of the former is maol.

You are correct that both have ecclesiastical associations but their origins are quite different.

Maol (bald or bare) is also the term used for a monk's tonsure and so the early ecclesiastical use would I presume have been associated with ecclesiastical groups that adopted that feature.

Gillie (lad, man-servant, follower etc) has a much broader use and many a Gillies, MacLellan etc will be descended from people with no ecclesiastical connection.