Surname Mac Hugh - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Hugh: What does the surname Mac Hugh mean?
The last name Mac Hugh is an Irish name that typically originates from Ulster, an area of Northern Ireland. It is believed to have descended from a Gaelic personal name, “Aodh”, which translates to “fire” or “Hugh”, meaning “heart” or “soul”. This likely suggests a connection to the fiery passion and dedication of the people in this area.
The Mac Hugh surname is quite common in the northern part of the island, but it also appears in areas further south than Ulster, sometimes shortened to “McHugh”. The meaning of the name may have shifted in those areas to refer to “hill”, “youth”, or “son”, instead of “fire” or “heart”.
People bearing the Mac Hugh name are typically proud of their Irish heritage, as the history of the name is quite likely linked to the spirited Northern Irish culture. Those bearing this last name throughout the world often have strong ties to their roots, and like many Irish surnames, many people have undertaken research to trace their ancestry and connect with distant relatives.
In the end, the Mac Hugh name is a reminder that although people have left their homeland in search of new opportunities, it is still important to have a connection to where one comes from and to the stories of our ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Hugh: Where does the name Mac Hugh come from?
The last name Mac Hugh is an Irish surname and therefore is most commonly found in Ireland today. The name can be found all across the island, predominantly in the provinces of Munster and Leinster. The name is also found amongst those who have Irish heritage in other parts of the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, the most concentrated numbers of those with the Mac Hugh last name can be found in New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. In the most recent United States census, the Mac Hugh name was found in 36 states with the most being in New York and California.
The Mac Hugh surname can also be found in other places across the globe, but the numbers are very small. In Canada, the name is most concentrated in Ontario followed by British Columbia. In the UK, it is most often found in the far north including Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the north of England. For those in Australia, the most concentrated hubs for the name can be found in Victoria and New South Wales. In New Zealand, Mac Hughs are mainly found in the central part of the country.
No matter where the name is found, it is most commonly an Irish last name and has been for centuries, tracing its roots back to the Celtic influence in the region.
Variations of the surname Mac Hugh
The surname Mac Hugh (often anglicized as MacHugh) is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name Mac Aodha, which means "son of Aodh (Hugh)". It is a variant form of the related surname Mac Aoidh, which is the original Gaelic form of the surname. The Mac Hugh variant is mainly found in Counties Fermanagh, Clare, Wexford, Galway, and Mayo.
McHugh, Mc Hugh, MacHue, MacHugh, Macoow, and Macquigg are some variants of the surname Mac Hugh. In Scotland, the surname also appears as the family name Mackesy. It is also anglicized as McHue or McUwe, variants of the original Gaelic Mac Aodha.
In some parts of Ireland, the name is rendered as MagHua and MagHugh. It is also found as Maghue and Maghuamha in Counties Clare and Galway. In Scotland, the name is occasionally found as Maghugh.
Other variants of this name include M'Aodh, Maghugh, MacCaughlin, Macquigg, Maguire, Magaith, MacOw and MacYou. Many of these variants are also found as surnames in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and other parts of Europe.
In the USA and other countries, the name Mac Hugh is often anglicized as Magoo, Maguire, McGuire, and McGwire. But these are not true variants of the original name—they are simply spellings that have been adopted in the US for the convenience of pronunciation.
Famous people with the name Mac Hugh
- Carys MacHugh: British Labour Party politician and lawyer.
- May MacHugh: Irish author and playwright.
- Ned MacHugh: Irish athlete and Gaelic footballer.
- Sean MacHugh: Irish actor, theatre director, and playwright.
- Eoin MacHugh: Irish actor and author.
- Peadar MacHugh: Irish born politician and civil rights activist.
- Kevin MacHugh: Irish musician and singer-songwriter.
- Kyla MacHugh: British singer-songwriter and actress.
- Ray MacHugh: Irish Gaelic football manager and sportsperson.
- Sean MacHugh: American poet and humorist.
- Donal MacHugh: Irish rugby union player.
- Bridget MacHugh: Irish artistic director and writer.
- Michael MacHugh: British diplomat and soldier.
- Sabina MacHugh: American author, speaker and mentor.
- Gemma MacHugh: Irish actress and writer.
- Aaron MacHugh: Scottish Footballer.
- Máire MacHugh: Irish actress and television presenter.
- David MacHugh: American neurologist and author.
- Caoimhe MacHugh: Irish dancer and choreographer.
- Ted MacHugh: British actor and comedian.