Surname MacIveagh - Meaning and Origin
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MacIveagh: What does the surname MacIveagh mean?
The surname MacIveagh is derived from the Old Gaelic name Mac an Iomaire, which means "son of the steward". It is an Irish name, and as such has strong connections to Irish culture and heritage. Historically, the MacIveaghs were a powerful family who were stewards to both the Kings of Thomond and the Lords of Ui Maine. During their tenure in these positions, they became very influential, helping shape politics and policies in both regions.
Today, MacIveaghs are found around the world. Clans of MacIveaghs often live in close knit communities, with many still living in Ireland. Those living in the United States can often find a sense of community amongst themselves, with many gathering at feasts and festivals, such as the MacIveagh annual reunion in Mechanic Falls, Maine.
The legacy of the MacIveagh family is one of strong values and traditions. They are a proud people who remain strongly connected to their Irish roots. Even today, many MacIveaghs strive to uphold these values and traditions in order to honor their ancestors. MacIveaghs are proud of their heritage, and will continue to keep their legacy alive for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisMacIveagh: Where does the name MacIveagh come from?
The surname MacIveagh (also spelled MacIvey or MacIvee) is most commonly found in Scotland and Ireland today. It is a surname derived from the Gaelic patronymic Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh". This name is derived from the Old Gaelic personal name Aodh, which has been adopted in English versions as Hugh.
This is an ancient surname and is found in records from as early as the 12th century. In particular, the surname is associated with the MacAodha or McKeveagh families of County Galway, in Ireland. The MacIveagh name appears to have some connection with County Down, Northern Ireland too.
In Scotland, the name is recorded in the Scottish Borders in the late 14th century, where it became established during the Feudal era. The surname can also be found in records in Stirlingshire from 1579.
The MacIveagh name is still common throughout Scotland and Ireland today though it is by no means as prevalent in either of these countries as some other surnames. That same, researchers estimate that about 1,700 people worldwide carry the MacIveagh surname today.
Variations of the surname MacIveagh
The MacIveagh name has numerous variants of spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include: MacIver, Mac Iver, Mac Iffer, Mac Iffert, MacIfferty, MacIvie, MacIvy, MacKiver, MacKeaver, MacEiver, MacKeaghan, MacKie, MacKiever, MacKiernan, MacIvor and many more. Generally, all of these surnames descend from the same Irish family line of MacIveagh or MacIver, which originated in Ulster.
The original MacIveagh/MacIver family hail from the counties of Antrim, Derry and Donegal in Ulster. In Scotland, the names MacIver and Mac Iver were mainly found in the area of Kintyre, with a few families also living in Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Dumbartonshire. The original offset of the MacIveagh family name originated from Iver, which was an ancient Norse-Gaelic personal name. This translates to ‘yew-warrior’, which is a great indication of the measure of prowess the original family must have possessed!
Variants and spellings of the MacIveagh name would often change over time, assisted by variation in dialects across different regions. Often names like MacIvie, MacIvy, MacKiever and MacKeaver could be used in the same context, with MacIver originating more often within Scotland, and MacIveagh in Ireland.
It’s likely that the variations in the spelling of the surname have arisen due to possible mishearings by clerks when recording it in records, or even due to families themselves altering the spelling in the belief that it would better reflect their status.
Famous people with the name MacIveagh
- Hugh MacIveagh: An American lawyer and politician from Tennessee who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Vinnie MacIveagh: A British-American singer-songwriter and daughter of Hugh and Emilie MacIveagh.
- John MacIveagh: An English baron and diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to the United States from January 1912 to June 1921.
- Franklin MacIveagh: An American politician and lawyer who represented Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives during the 52nd Congress (1891–1893).
- William MacIveagh: An American lawyer and politician who was the longest-serving mayor of Port Chester, New York, from 1912–1920.
- Emilie MacIveagh: An American socialite who was the wife of Hugh MacIveagh from 1898 until his death in 1936.
- Edmund MacIveagh: An English artist, collector, and director of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England.
- Francis MacIveagh: An English resident of Ireland who was a Member of Parliament from 1859–66.
- Lewis MacIveagh: An American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War who served as a commander under General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Atlanta Campaign.
- Edward MacIveagh: An Irish lawyer, landowner, and politician who was the first Prime Minister of the Irish Free State from December 1922 to October 1927.