Surname MacEveagh - Meaning and Origin
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MacEveagh: What does the surname MacEveagh mean?
The last name MacEveagh originates from the Gaelic area of Mac Aodhghaoith, which translates to mean ‘son of Aodh’. Aodh is a Gaelic name meaning “fire” or “spirit” and likely refers to a chieftain or an ancestor from whom the family descends. The surname is most commonly associated with areas such as Armagh, Tyrone, and Dublin, and is believed to be a derivative of the name MacGeoghagan or MacGeehan.
In Ireland, the name has often been adopted by the MacAodh descendants following the 1901 census when the Gaelic and English forms of many names were recorded as one form. Therefore, MacEveagh can be said to be the anglicised version of the original Gaelic name, Mac Aodhghaoith. In England, the MacEveagh name is believed to have been derived from MacGeoghagan, which refers to the then semi-nomadic people who established various settlements in the area.
The origin of MacEveagh is associated with a long legacy of clan chieftains and powerful families, the prominent MacAodh clan being one of the most influential in the history of Ireland. The name is still associated with abundant and full mementoes of a powerful past, a past which continues to hold an important place in the hearts and homes of the Irish.
Order DNA origin analysisMacEveagh: Where does the name MacEveagh come from?
The MacEveagh surname is historically associated with County Mayo, Ireland. Today, the name can still be found in that area, as well as in other regions in Ireland.
In addition to Ireland, the name MacEveagh can be found in the US, Canada, and other regions of the British Isles. Records of individuals carrying the name MacEveagh have been traced back to the 1700s when the surname was included on passenger lists of immigrants coming from Ireland to both the US and Canada.
Since then, the name has spread throughout the US and Canada. In 2015, the online genealogy platform Family Search reported that the greatest numbers of individuals with the surname MacEveagh were living in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and California.
Overall, the name MacEveagh has remained popular in many parts of Ireland, as well as in the US and Canada. Although the surname has spread out to other countries, Ireland and North America remain the key locations where individuals can be found with the last name MacEveagh.
Variations of the surname MacEveagh
The surname MacEveagh is believed to have originated in 9th century Ireland. It’s typically spelled MacEveagh, but there are several other variations of this spelling, as well as other surnames of similar origin.
The most common variants of MacEveagh include MacEve, MacEov, MacEauv, MacEvie, MacEwe, and MacEvin. The most common variants outside of Ireland include McEvoy, McEvie, McEvan, and McEwen.
Other related surnames are MacAveigh, MacEddy, MacFadyen, MacIver, MacKeon, MacKewell, MacLeay, MacHugh, and MacVey. All of these surnames are believed to have a similar origin to MacEveagh.
In the U.S., the most commonly seen variants of MacEveagh are McEvoy, McEvie, McEvan, and McEwen. These surnames can all be seen in various states, with McEvoy appearing most commonly in California, Illinois, and Texas, and McEvie appearing most commonly in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
In other countries, the name is spelled a little differently. For example, in Scotland it is spelled MacEvers, while in Wales it is spelled MacUisdean.
Overall, the surname MacEveagh is thought to have originated in Ireland during the 9th century and has since spread throughout the world, with various spellings and related surnames emerging over the years.
Famous people with the name MacEveagh
- Lawrence Scott MacEveagh (1860–1924): First cousin of Theodore Roosevelt and an American lawyer and author who fought for civil rights and women's suffrage.
- Franklin Pease MacEveagh (1885–1936): American politician who served as a US representative from Indiana and as Governor of the Philippines.
- Frank Scott MacEveagh (1862–1933): American political figure who served as Treasurer of the United States and Secretary of the Treasury.
- Eugene Scott MacEveagh (1873–1944): Grandson of Lawrence Scott MacEveagh and served as Secretary of War under US president William Howard Taft and was President of the Carnegie Institute in Washington D.C.
- Edwin Scott MacEveagh (1844–1922): Attorney who joined his brother Lawrence in defending Henry Francis Bristow from charges of election fraud in the 1881 New York State Election.
- Gertrude MacEveagh (1873–1966): Daughter of Lawrence Scott MacEveagh and American socialite active in numerous women's rights and other societal movements.
- Stephen Clarke MacEveagh (1863–1953): American financier and philanthropist, as well as chairman of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the first president of the Investment Bankers Association of America.
- Charles Grafton MacEveagh (1883–1963): Businessman and philanthropist who served as President of the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh.