Surname MacCuish - Meaning and Origin
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MacCuish: What does the surname MacCuish mean?
The surname MacCuish is a Scottish toponymic surname originating in Argyll, Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic elements “mac” meaning “son” or “descendant” combined with “cuis” denoting a person inhabiting a narrow bay or harbour.
It is thought that the original family bore the name “MacCuis” and the variations of this surname eventually evolved to become MacCuish.
The earliest MacCuish recorded is Gilbert, Chaplain of Bishop Wait and Prior of Rochester in 1273, and Mathias MacCuish (c. 1300) who was the first recorded Laird of Keil Castle. Over the centuries the MacCuish family served as soldiers, statesmen and aristocrats, holding titles and bearing arms across Scotland.
MacCuish- short for MacCuish, is a proud and distinguished Scottish surname with a complex and colourful history. It has been shared by countless generations of Scotsmen and women for centuries and continues to thrive to this day. No matter what part of Scotland they come from, the MacCuish have a shared identity and shared heritage that binds them together in unity and brotherhood.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCuish: Where does the name MacCuish come from?
The last name MacCuish is most commonly found in Scotland and in areas of the United Kingdom with historic connections to Scotland. It is a variant of the surname MacCuish, which is derived from the Gaelic personal name MacCuise, meaning “son of Cushe”. In Scotland, the surname can be found mainly on the Inner Hebridean island of Islay, in the Highlands, Argyllshire, and parts of the Lowlands. Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the name can be found in highest concentration in London, with smaller pockets in other locations, especially in England's south-west.
In terms of where in the world the surname is most commonly found outside the UK, there is a small proportion of people bearing the name in neighbouring Ireland and, interestingly, numbers have been recorded more expansively in the United States since the early 19th century. It is possible that generations of Highland Scots immigrating to the U.S. carried the name with them and that this is where the predominantly-U.S.-based records are coming from, as it was common practice during this time for immigrants’ names to be changed at U.S. ports of entry. The Crossties Project in the U.S. has recorded the presence of the MacCuish/MacCuish name in 17 states in varying numbers, with some parts of the Midwest and West Coast having the largest concentrations.
Variations of the surname MacCuish
The surname MacCuish has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include MacKuish, MacQuish, MacKwish, MacUish, McQuish, MacCuish, McCuish and MacCush.
The most common spelling–MacCuish–is primarily found in Scotland and Ireland and is derived from the Gaelic MacCuisin. This is itself derived from Cuisin, an Irish personal name made up of the elements ‘cu’ (hound, brave) and ‘sin’ (kind). Other variations include MacKwish, MacQuish and MacUish.
The spelling MacCuish is most likely derived directly from the Old Irish Cuisín, which in turn was derived from the Gaelic Mac Cuisín, meaning “son of Cuisín”. This Gaelic name was adopted by many branches of the same family and is still found in Scotland, England and Ireland today.
Variants of the MacCuish surname can be found across the Irish Sea, with the spellings MacKwish and McQuish being most commonly found in Ireland. The MacCuish spelling has also been concentrated in the British Isles over the centuries, where it has been used in Scotland and northern England.
The spelling MacCush is sometimes found in North America where it is the Anglicized form of the Irish MacCuish. Meanwhile, the surname McCuish is more commonly associated with Scotland, especially in the Scottish islands.
Altogether, the descriptions and various spelling combinations mentioned in this answer offer a comprehensive overview of the variants, spellings and surnames associated with the MacCuish surname.
Famous people with the name MacCuish
- Hugh MacCuish: Canadian marathoner, represented Canada at the 1952 Summer Olympics
- Robert MacCuish: Scottish-born Canadian industrialist and philanthropist
- Rosa MacCuish: 19th-century Nova Scotia poet
- Eòghan MacCuish: Chief of the Clan MacCuish
- Audrey MacCuish: Canadian author and playwright
- Angus MacCuish: BBC Scotland Gaelic Producer
- Ian MacCuish: Scottish footballer, played for Celtic FC in the 1940s
- Christopher MacCuish: Canadian politician, former mayor of Richmond, British Columbia
- Kirsten MacCuish: Canadian figure skater
- Alastair MacCuish: Scottish actor, known for his roles in the Canadian TV series Corner Gas and Robson Arms