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Surname MacPhadden - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'M'

MacPhadden: What does the surname MacPhadden mean?

The surname MacPhadden is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Phaidín, which means “son of little Patrick”. The Mac prefix indicates that the last name is a patronymic; the Phaidín portion is derived from the personal name Padraig, which is derived from the Latin name Patricius, or “nobleman”.

It was first recorded in Scotland during the 1400s in Bute, Argyll, and Glamorgan. The family of MacPhadden were originally a sept of Clan Campbell, and their origins go back even further to the 1700s in the Highland County of Inverness. The MacPhadden family then spread throughout the Scottish Highlands, to Wales, England, and eventually North America and Australia.

The spelling of MacPhadden can also take other forms, such as MacFadden, McFadden, MacPhaden, MacPhedran, and others. MacPhadden is a strong, recognisable surname that has a distinguished history and is proud of its Scottish roots. The name not only indicates where the family may have originated, but also conveys a sense of pride and belonging for many who bear the surname.

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MacPhadden: Where does the name MacPhadden come from?

The last name MacPhadden is most commonly found in Ireland today. The surname originated from the Irish Mac Pheadáin, which translates to “son of the Pearl Sovereign." This last name is recorded in records throughout Ireland in the 16th century.

Today, MacPhadden can be found throughout Ireland and outside the island itself. It is especially common in County Donegal, with a concentration of people bearing the name living in the rural regions of Inishowen, particularly in the town of Buncrana. Other cities and towns with a high concentration of MacPhaddens include Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Cork.

Outside of Ireland, the last name MacPhadden is most notably associated with Scotland and parts of England and Wales. MacPhadden is also prevalent in the United States and Canada, where many of its bearers’ ancestors emigrated in the 19th century and after World War II. Some of the most notable American MacPhaddens include Republican politicians Tom and Judy MacPhadden, actress and singer Control Apartments, and writer and literary scholar Raymond MacPhadden.

Variations of the surname MacPhadden

The surname MacPhadden can be spelled and variated in a number of different ways, such as MacFadden, MacPheaden, McFaddan, MacFaddin, MacPhadin, McFaddin, McKpadden and even McFait.

It is thought that the origin of the MacPhadden surname comes from either the Gaelic name MacFhaidhin or Mac a'Padain. The Gaelic name MacFhaidhin is translated as “son of Fhaidhin”. The base form of the name is Fhaidhin, the anglicized version of which is variously spelled as Pheaden, Pheadain, Pheidon, Pheoden, or Phaidon. The prefix Mac or Mc converts the name to the Irish names mentioned above.

The Clan McCoull or Maul McCoull is closely linked to the MacPhaddens. It is believed that the MacPhadden/McFadden name is derived from the same root as is McCoull, which means “son of the hound”. This suggests that the surname originated from a family of hereditary houndsmen. Many of these families were fierce fighters during the Williamite wars and held positions of authority in Antrim and in the Ulster Plantation of the 17th century.

The surname can also be found as a phonetic variant of McFaden, McFadyen, or McFaddan. This variation is thought to have originated with settlers from the Scottish Borders area at the time of notable Clans of both Scotland and Ireland. It is believed that these settlers adopted the Gaelic variant of the name due to similarities in sound with the anglicised version of McFadyen.

The varying spellings and surnames of the same origin demonstrate the etymology and evolution of language over time. It is interesting to look into the history of a surname and discover its roots and the families it is associated with.

Famous people with the name MacPhadden

  • Russel MacPhadden, American actor, best known as Fire Chief Anderson in the "Back to the Future" movies.
  • John MacPhadden, former Governor of Colorado.
  • Hugo MacPhadden, Argentine diplomat and author.
  • Tyler MacPhadden, Emmy-nominated American special effects supervisor.
  • William MacPhadden, British politician who served in the House of Commons from 1892-1917.
  • Pat MacPhadden, former pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.
  • Bob MacPhadden, noted American horse trainer.
  • Clay MacPhadden, NFL player for the Chicago Bears.
  • Stephen MacPhadden, singer and songwriter from the US.
  • Rhys MacPhadden, American Navy Commander.

Other surnames

MacPhadenMacPhadonMacPhadyen

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