Surname MacVay - Meaning and Origin
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MacVay: What does the surname MacVay mean?
The last name MacVay is of Scottish origin, coming from the Gaelic Mac and Aoidh (son of Aoidh). The Aoidh name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Aodh, which in turn makes its roots in the Old Irish language. This name is associated with different clans and the MacVay surname represents one of them.
The naming traditions of Scotland are unique amongst the British Isles, dating back to the Middle Ages. Clans were made up of families that were bound together by an oath of allegiance to their leader; these leaders were often represented computationally by their surname. The MacVay surnames were borne by those associated with the MacAoidh (or MacKay) clan in the Scottish Highlands.
The name MacVay is thought to indicate a family who were descended from the Norsemen who first arrived in Scotland in the 9th or 10th century CE. They bring with them their language and culture which, over time, has become deeply entrenched in the culture and language of Scotland. Today, the name MacVay represents a family that are proud of their Scottish heritage and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisMacVay: Where does the name MacVay come from?
The last name MacVay is most commonly found in the United States. It is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Ohio. It is also found in smaller numbers in many other states in the United States, as well as Canada.
It is one of the more recently formed surnames, created during the period of Scottish-Irish immigration from the 17th to 19th centuries. However, the source of the surname is disputed and ranges from Irish settlers who derived the name from the ancient MacFee, MacKay or MacPhaigh Clans to Scottish derivation of the name from O’MacVey and McVey Clans.
The MacVay surname is quickly declining in number throughout the United States and Canada. This is likely due to lack of reproduction or movement away from previous clusters of the name in some states. The most recent census showed that MacVay was the 11,379th most popular surname in the United States in 2018, down by 7% from 2000. This decline is most likely due to the prevalence of other surnames, as well as intermarried families and other factors.
Variations of the surname MacVay
The surname MacVay has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is "MacVey", which is simply an alternate spelling of the same surname. Other variants include "MacVie", "MacVeyi", "McVey", "McVay", "McVeigh", and "McVei". This surname has its roots in Scotland and Ireland, and most versions of the surname in those countries are spelled "MacVey".
MacVey is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic form of the name, which is Mac Mhic Bheatha, or Mac Bhaid. The prefix "Mac" is derived from the Gaelic word meaning "son of." "Bhaid" is often Anglicized as "Vay" or "Vey". Thus, MacVey is derived from the Gaelic Mac Mhic Bheatha.
In Scotland, the MacVey family is believed to be descended from the MacGregors. The family is descended from which are a sept of Clan Campbell. The MacVey family had its main holdings at Drimsynie, Argyll from the early 1650s to the late 1940s.
In Ireland, the MacVey family is believed to be of Scots-Irish descent and is associated with County Monaghan, where they were centered in the town of Rockcorry. The family was also associated with the Monaghan area until the early 19th century when they moved to Fermanagh due to the famine.
The variants of MacVey are numerous, with some families preferring to spell their surname as "McCah", "McGevee", "McVeah", or "McVey". Therefore, all these surnames are derived from the same derivations of the Gaelic Mac Mhic Bheatha.
Famous people with the name MacVay
- Brooke MacVay: Actress and radio show host
- Willie MacVay: Professional wrestler
- Gordon MacVay: Writer, producer and actor
- Michael MacVay: Professional Football coach
- Joe MacVay: Singer and music producer
- Pat MacVay: Celebrity Stylist
- Kip MacVay: Executive Producer and Director
- Elton MacVay: Actor and voice actor
- David MacVay: Voice actor
- Mat MacVay: Musician, singer and songwriter