Surname MacAtee - Meaning and Origin
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MacAtee: What does the surname MacAtee mean?
The last name MacAtee is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic or Scottish name Mac an t-Saoi, which means “son of theStoryteller.” It is thought to have originated in Ireland and be of Ulster-Scots heritage. In Scotland, MacAtee is most often found in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.
The storyteller was an important cultural figure in medieval Celtic societies. They were responsible for passing down the oral tales of heroic deeds, tragic love stories, wins and losses in battles, and other historical facts. This allowed the culture to remember its past, including battles, political changes, and heroic figures. By repeating these tales, storytellers also preserved the culture and language as well as creating a shared identity and understanding.
MacAtee is thus a name associated with culture and remembrance, highlighting the importance of this profession in the past. It remains today as a reminder of the ancestors who were storytellers, helping to keep the memories of their culture and society alive.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAtee: Where does the name MacAtee come from?
The last name MacAtee is most commonly seen in Scotland and Ireland today. It is a Scottish surname which originates from the Gaelic Mac an t-Saoghail, meaning ‘son of the foreign man’. It is derived from the Norse-Gaelic personal name ‘Mac Lean’, and was used to describe the sons of Early Scottish settlers who originated from the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The family name can be found here in both its original Scottish form and its Irish counterpart, MacAtee, which is pronounced ‘muh-KAY-tee’.
In terms of geographical spread, MacAtees can be found all across Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and the Islands. It is also fairly common in the Irish counties of Donegal, Cork, Limerick, and Galway.
Outside of the British Isles, the influence of the MacAtee surname can be felt across the Atlantic in North America. Those with the MacAtee last name can be found in the USA, Canada, and in the Caribbean islands of Jamaica and Barbados.
It is thought that the MacAtee surname arrived in America with the early Scottish emigrants in the 1600s, although many of those who settled in North America did not keep the original spelling of their surname. Today, if you are looking for MacAtees outside of the British Isles, you may find them listed under the anglicized variants such as Mackati, McCatee, and Makeaty.
Variations of the surname MacAtee
The surname MacAtee is a variant of the Gaelic Mac an tSaoi, which itself means 'son of the Wise One'. Variants of this name include MacAtty, McAtty, MacKety, MacCatey, MacKetee, McAteer, McAtee and MacKeaty. Less common variants include MacAttey, MacEtee, MacKetey, Mecatee, MacTee, MacKittey, MacKtee, MacKitty and MacTay.
These variants can be further divided into different spellings, including Mac Atty,Mc Atee and Mac Catee. Variations of spelled out prefixes, such as “Mack” and “McK”, are also seen in some of the surnames.
The prefix “Mac” indicates the Scottish or Irish origin of the surname. It is believed that the surname originated with the early Irish and Scottish Celts, specifically with members of the tribe of the MacDonnells, who were of Scottish origin.
The spelling of MacAtee in Ireland is sometimes seen as Mac Eite. This is believed to be a variation of the surname Mac Eaghtredh, which was found in the island of Uist, Scotland.
The use of shortened versions of the surname MacAtee, such as Macatee and Macatee, are found in several locations, including Northern Ireland and Scotland. In other parts of the world, including Australia, USA and Canada, variations of the surname include McAteer and McAtee.
In Scotland, the surname MacAtee can be seen in the form of McAtee and McAtty. In England, spellings of the surname Macatee include MacKeate and MacCutty.
In countries such as Canada, MacCatee, McAteer, Mactee and Macitee are found alongside MacAtee. The spelling of the surname may also vary significantly from region to region in many countries.
Famous people with the name MacAtee
- Chris MacAtee: an actor who appeared in multiple TV shows and films such as "Grey's Anatomy," "American Horror Story: Hotel," "Scandal," and "The Newsroom"
- Emma MacAtee: a British actress who has appeared in TV shows such as "The Mysteries of Laura," "Elementary," and "Law & Order: UK"
- Elisabeth MacAtee: a Norwegian actress who appeared in the film "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald"
- Alexandra MacAtee: an actress who appeared in TV shows and films such as "iCarly," "Halfway There," and "Kidnap"
- Phil MacAtee: a musician from the United States who has released two studio albums
- Evelyn MacAtee: a novelist and playwright from the United States
- Andrew MacAtee: an American fashion designer and entrepreneur
- Jack MacAtee: a professional wrestler from the United States
- John MacAtee: a rugby union player from Ireland
- Patrick MacAtee: an artist and sculptor from the United States