Surname MacPhaden - Meaning and Origin
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MacPhaden: What does the surname MacPhaden mean?
The surname MacPhaden is of Scottish origin and is associated with Clan MacKay, a prominent Scottish clan. The surname is derived from MacPháidín, which is the Gaelic form of the Scottish term "son of Patrick". It is thought that the origin of this surname was from an ancestor of Clan MacKay who had assumed the patronymic of Patrick, an Irish saint.
The most popular theories of the name's origins is that it is from the Gaelic Mac Phaidein which roughly translates as "son of the poor one" or "son of the squire". This suggests that the family may have originally been associated with a minor sub-clan of Clan MacKay which was not an affluent one.
Although the exact origins of the surname MacPhaden are unknown, there is some evidence which connects it with Clan MacKay. As with other Scottish surnames, MacPhaden has many spellings, including MacPhaden, MacPadden, MacFadden and McVadden. The sheer variety of the alternate spellings for this name indicates that it is of great antiquity.
For individuals who are currently bearing the MacPhaden surname, it carries a sense of pride and a deep connection to the colorful past of the Scottish clans with whom it is associated. Bearing this prestigious surname is a reminder of the many generations of Alice's who have proudly carried it, and will continue to do so in the future.
Order DNA origin analysisMacPhaden: Where does the name MacPhaden come from?
The last name MacPhaden is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the Inner Hebrides. It is a habitational name, derived from the town of Mac Phaedin in Ayrshire, Scotland. The town of Mac Phaedin was named after the McPhaedin clan which was formed by Dugald McFadzean in the 16th century.
MacPhaden is also a fairly common surname in Canada, particularly Ontario and Alberta. It is thought that many of the Canadian MacPhaden families descended from Scottish immigrants who moved to Canada in the 19th century in search of a better life.
The MacPhaden surname is also found in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and in the Northeast. It is thought that the first MacPhadens in America settled in the Pennsylvania area in the mid-1800s, although the majority of MacPhadens in America now hail from Scottish immigrants who moved to the United States around the same time.
More recently, MacPhaden families have spread to Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and many countries around the world. Many of these families are descendants of Scottish immigrants who left their homeland to seek new opportunities.
Variations of the surname MacPhaden
The MacPhaden surname is derived from the Gaelic surname MacFaden, which was an old Irish surname derived from the Gaelic personal name O’Fidan. Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin include MacFeyden, MacFeiden, Phelan, MacFadyen, MacFaidin, MacFadden, McFadon, McFadyen, McFaidin, McFaden, McFeaten, MacFeaten, Philips, Philbin, MacGrath, Phillips and Griffen.
MacFeyden (also spelled MacFeiden) is the more modern form of the name MacFaden. MacFeyden is said to have originated in County Mayo, Ireland during the 18th century and was a variation of the old Gaelic name O’Fidan. The first recorded spelling of the name MacFeyden was in 1794, which was recorded by a well-known QLD government surveyor in Australia named Henry Fadden (MacFeyden).
McFadon (also spelled McFadyen and McFaidin) is a variation of MacFeyden, which was first recorded in County Clare, Ireland in the mid-19th century. The McFadon spelling of the MacFeyden name was recorded in the Garnish parish records in 1855.
The McPhaden surname has also been translated into Welsh, as the modern Welsh spelling of the name is Pfeiden. Phelan (also spelled Philbin and Phillips) is another variant of the MacFeyden name which is significantly more common than the other variants listed above. MacGrath is a surname which was derived from MacFeyden; records of people with MacGrath in their names have been found in Yangery, Australia in the 1840s. Griffen is also an interchangeable surnamewhich often appears in place of McFaden and was first recorded in County Cork in the 1850s.
Famous people with the name MacPhaden
- Euan MacPhaden: a Scottish Actor known for films such as Isle of Dogs, Gangs of London, and Christopher Robin.
- Angus MacPhaden: a Scottish Actor, singer, TV presenter and radio host who is best known for his roles in films such as Brooklyn, Mission Impossible and Sweet Tooth.
- Duncan MacPhaden: a British Actor who has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including Harry Potter, Love Actually and The Dark Knight.
- Cal MacPhaden: a Scottish Actor and singer, best known for playing the role of Tom Boyd in the BBC drama series Monarch of the Glen.
- Kenneth MacPhaden: a Scottish Actor, director, writer and producer who is best known for his work on projects such as My Name is Joe and Glasgow Kisses.
- Lachlan MacPhaden: a Scottish Actor, best known for his roles in films such as Breakfast on Pluto and Codename: the Cleaner.
- Cameron MacPhaden: a British Actor, best known for his work in films such as Mamma Mia! and Desperate Romantics.
- Angus MacPhaden: a Scottish Actor and author, best known for his roles in films such as The Secret ouf Duncan MacPhaden and The Sky Is Falling.
- Kenneth MacPhaden Jr.: a Scottish Actor who gained recognition after appearing in the short film Granny Jean’s House.
- David MacPhaden: a British Actor, best known for parts in films such as Resurrection and The World’s End.