MacBride comes from the Irish Mac Ghiolla Bhrighde, "son of the follower of (St.) Bridget"; St. Bridget was a famous abbess of Kildare, who died in 525 AD. Also derived from the same Irish original are the surnames Kilbride, Gilbride, MacIlvreed, MacGilbride and others. The principal Irish family of the name were based in the north of Co. Donegal in Raymunterdoney, where they were very prominent in the church, a number of the family becoming bishops. A branch migrated to Co. Down in early times, where the surname remains quite numerous. In Ulster also, the name may have a Scottish origin, from the descendants of one Gillebride, progenitor of one branch of the Clan Donald. The best known contemporary bearer of the surname was Sean MacBride (1904-1988), active on the Republican side in the War of Independence and after, Minister for External Affairs from 1948 to 1951, founder-member of Amnesty International, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1974, the Lenin Peace Prize in 1977 and the American Medal for Justice in 1978.