Surname MacAvinchey - Meaning and Origin
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MacAvinchey: What does the surname MacAvinchey mean?
The last name MacAvinchey is a Gaelic patronymic surname originating from a male ancestor with the given name Aonghus, meaning "one strength." This name may have been derived from the Irish surname "Mac Aonghusa," which is composed of the prefix "mac," meaning "son of," and the root "Aonghus," which is derived from the Old Irish personal name "Aingus," meaning "one strength." This personal name could have also been derived from the Celtic word "aing," meaning "sole, primeval."
This name is most commonly found in Scotland and Ireland, and bearers of this surname are said to descend from the clans of MacAonghusa who resided in the county of Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Historically, the MacAonghusa clan were known as loyal supporters of the Crown, playing a prominent role in the wars of the 17th century.
Today, MacAvinchey is a relatively uncommon surname, and its bearers can be found in many countries around the world, as many individuals with this last name have emigrated to countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and England.
Overall, the last name MacAvinchey effectively captures the meaning of "one strength" and embodies the loyal spirit of its ancestral clan.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAvinchey: Where does the name MacAvinchey come from?
The last name MacAvinchey is most commonly found today in Ireland and Scotland, though it can also be found in other countries as well. In Ireland, about 90 percent of people with the last name MacAvinchey are located in County Donegal, where the original surname is believed to have originated. In Scotland, the last name is most commonly found in the Highland regions and the area around Glasgow, though there are also a few families around Edinburgh.
Elsewhere around the world, MacAvinchey families can be found in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, MacAvinchey families are mainly concentrated in Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and California.
Though the last name originated in Ireland and Scotland, there is likely to have been some name change and mixing with different cultures as people have migrated over the centuries. This has likely resulted in different pronunciations of the name, as well as spellings such as MacAfenchie and MacAvincey.
The MacAvinchey family surname is believed to be derived from the gaelic name Mac an Mhilion, which meant "son of the vassal", indicating that the family likely originated from some sort of bond verifying agreement. Many of the earliest members of the surname are believed to have been clerics, which could explain why the surname is so often associated with piety in Ireland and Scotland.
Variations of the surname MacAvinchey
The surname MacAvinchey is an Anglicized version of the Irish surname Mac Cionnaith. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name Cennétig which is made up of two Irish words; cenn meaning ‘head’ and etig meaning ‘dignity’. As a result, the name transliterates as "son of the chief". It is popularly known by several variant and Anglicized forms including MacAvinchey, MacVinchie, MacVenchie, MacVince, MacAvenue, and MacVenchi. Other variants include McVinchey, Vinchey, McEntegart, McAnulty, Vince, Venchy and McInulty.
The MacAvinchey surname is found primarily in the Ulster province of Northern Ireland where it may also be spelled MacAnulty or McEntegart. It is also encountered in the northeastern counties of Donegal, Cavan and Fermanagh. The MacVince surname is found mainly in south-eastern Ulster, in counties such as Antrim and Down, as well as in counties Leitrim and Roscommon in the Republic of Ireland.
Despite the different versions and spellings of the surname, the variants are all thought to have come from the same original, ancestral surname. The MacAvinchey name is shared by many Irish families and has been carried through the generations. Its fallen on different members of the family to bear different versions and spellings of the name, each with their own unique story.
Famous people with the name MacAvinchey
- Matthew McConaughey: Actor, Producer, Writer
- Coman MacAvinchie: Irish Footballer
- Malin MacAvinchie: Actor
- Bobby MacAvinchie: Actor
- Steffan MacAvinchie: Musician
- Judith McAvinchey: Actor
- David MCAvinchey: Politician
- Jimmy MacAvinchey: Comedian
- Ritchie MacAvinchey: Presenter
- Ailí MacAvinchey: Singer