Surname MacCoy - Meaning and Origin
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MacCoy: What does the surname MacCoy mean?
The surname MacCoy is of Gaelic origin, originating from Scotland and Ireland. It derived from the Gaelic personal name 'Aodh,' which means 'fire,' and coupled with an affectionate suffix, it translates to 'Son of fire' or 'Son of Hugh.' The name MacCoy might have been used to denote individuals who either resembled the traits of fire in their personalities or were descendants of someone named Hugh. Over time, spelling variations, such as McKie, McCoy, Mckay, emerged due to a general lack of standardization in spelling in ancient times and because Gaelic names were often Anglicized phonetically. Like many Gaelic surnames, MacCoy also experienced migration, chiefly to North America, during the 19th and 20th centuries due to the Great Famine and for better economic opportunities.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCoy: Where does the name MacCoy come from?
The surname MacCoy has Celtic origins and is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Aodha, which translates to 'son of Aodh'. Aodh, a prevalent personal name in early Ireland, represents a pagan god of the sun and fire, thereby hinting at a strong historical significance of this name.
The last name MacCoy has alternate spellings including McCoy, MacCoy, MacCoi, MacCoey, and MacCay. The surname initially emerged from the territories held by the Scottish Clan Mackay in the far north of the Highland Region of Scotland. Specifically, around Sutherland and Caithness county, the surname was more prevalent during the medieval period.
Today, following centuries of emigration, the MacCoy name is common in various parts of the globe. In the United Kingdom, especially Scotland and Northern Ireland, the name is still quite prevalent. The continuing Scottish and Irish diaspora has also resulted in the surname MacCoy being fairly common in Canada, the United States, Australia, and other English-speaking countries around the globe.
Variations of the surname MacCoy
The surname MacCoy originated from an Irish Gaelic background. It has several spelling and variant forms primarily due to the phonetic translations when the name was incorporated into English. Some of the common variant spellings include McCoy, Mackay, McKay, McKoy, Mackey, McHugh, and McGee.
The surname can also appear with or without the prefix "Mac" or "Mc", which denotes "son of." It also can be seen with a second capital letter, such as "MacCoy" or "McCoy", or as one word like "Mccoy".
Sometimes the surname is also inaccurately equated with or mistaken for similar sounding names like O'Boyle or Magee, which though Irish, have different origins.
The surname has Scottish variants as well such as MacCooish, MacCooey, and MacCuaig, which descended from the ancient Scottish Clan Mackay.
Transliteration of this Gaelic name into other languages can also lead to a wide range of equivalent surnames, for example, McCoy could become Leveque in French or Obispo in Spanish, both meaning bishop, if it comes from the Gaelic Mac Aodh meaning fire, which is symbolically connected to a bishop.
Understanding the changes in spelling, prefix, and language can make it easier to trace genealogical roots.
Famous people with the name MacCoy
- Colin MacCoy: Canadian professional soccer player
- Monica MacCoy: Former professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks
- Justine MacCoy: is an Australian entrepreneur, multi-faceted entertainer, and social media influencer
- Dr. Chanda MacCoy: President of Elizabeth City State University
- Charnell MacCoy: Australian News Correspondent of Nine News Queensland
- Rick MacCoy: founding member and bass player for Canadian band The Pursuit of Happiness
- Benjamin MacCoy: British actor
- Steve MacCoy: American photographer and cinematographer
- Orson MacCoy: Singer/Songwriter
- Pat MacCoy: Professional golfer
- Tama MacCoy: Canadian-based producer of music and film
- Michael MacCoy: Award-winning British stage actor
- Jimmy MacCoy: American rock & roll singer
- Emery MacCoy: Veteran American film producer
- Chris MacCoy: Radio host with Triple M Sydney
- Jared MacCoy: American-born, Canada-based singer-songwriter
- Launchbay MacCoy: New Zealand hip-hop artist
- Dillon MacCoy: Host of reality TV show Aussie Gold Hunters
- Mike MacCoy: Canadian businessman and philanthropist
- Pippa MacCoy: British television presenter