Surname McDavitt - Meaning and Origin

McDavitt: What does the surname McDavitt mean?

The last name McDavitt is derived from the Gaelic Mac Daibheid, meaning “son of David”. The root name David, which comes from the Hebrew meaning “beloved”, can be traced back to the biblical figure of King David. From David came two great branches: the House of Saul and the House of David. The line of David is believed to be the royal house of Israel and it is also the name David that was passed down through the generations.

The Mac Daibheids were among the earliest settlers of Scotland and were a powerful clan that spread throughout the Scottish Borders. Tradition maintains that the McDavitts were among the earliest Gallowglass warriors from Ireland who accompanied the O’Donnells to Scotland in the late 13th century. They eventually became a well-known clan in the Scottish Borders and the McDavitts were known to have supported the independent families of the region.

As the McDavitts settled in Scotland, they soon established their own families, farms, and towns, and prospered for many years. They built chemforts, castles, and homes, all while making contributions to their homeland’s economy. Over the course of centuries, the surname McDavitt has come to symbolize bravery, family, loyalty, and determination. To this day, McDavitts continue to be proud of their historic roots and the many successes they have achieved as a clan.

McDavitt: Where does the name McDavitt come from?

The last name McDavitt is most common in Northern Ireland, particularly in the counties of Donegal and Derry, where it originates. It is estimated that around 2,200 people in these areas bear the McDavitt surname.

McDavitt is also common in the United States, with the US Census Bureau estimating that nearly 3,000 people bear the surname across the country. Of these, a substantial portion is thought to be descended from Irish immigrants. McDavitt is particularly prevalent in the New England states, including Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as well as throughout the Midwest.

McDavitt can also be found in Scotland, especially in the Highlands. Here, however, its prevalence is much lower than in Ireland and the United States, with only a few hundred individuals bearing the name.

Other countries where McDavitt can be found include Canada, Australia, and various former British colonies throughout Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. It is also possible to find McDavitts in countries with high levels of Irish emigration, including the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Overall, the last name McDavitt is still widespread throughout the world, with concentrations of people bearing the name in Ireland, the United States, Scotland, Canada, Australia, and various former British colonies.

Variations of the surname McDavitt

The variants, spellings and surnames of McDavitt include MacDewitt, MacDavitt, McDavitt, MacDavid, McFied, with the Gaelic form of the last name being MacDaibhidh. McDavitt is an Irish-origin surname and is thought to have derived from the old Gaelic name MacDabhidh, which means son of David. The name David itself comes from the Hebrew “Dawid”, which in turn translates to beloved. Some variants have also been linked to the Old Norse Givename "Dufrati" or the Gaelic "Duibhre" which mean "dark".

The earliest recorded bearer of the surname MacDavitt was Purcel MacMahon McDavid in County Roscommon in 1498.Another notable bearer is Sir Paul McDavitt of the Ulster-based McDavitts, who was knighted in 1685. The surname is most commonly found in Ireland, Australia, Scotland, United States and Southern England.

The variants such as McDewitt, McDavitt, MacDavid, McFied, MacDaibhidh and MacDabhidh are just various dialectical and phonetically spelled versions of the same surname. It is important to understand that the variants all stem from the same source and referring to the same ancestor or point of origin. Therefore when researching family histories, keeping a keen eye out for unusual spelling variants of the popular surname may turn up successes.

Famous people with the name McDavitt

• Jonathan McDavitt: Actor best known for his roles in the National Touring Company of "Rent" and the TV drama "The Game".
• Kelly McDavitt: Executive Producer and Showrunner for the acclaimed television show "This is Us".
• Patrick McDavitt: Voice Actor with credits in popular video games and cartoons.
• Michael McDavitt: Professional lacrosse player for the Ohio Machine who has also made appearances in professional snowboard competitions.
• Maureen McDavitt: Award-winning visual artist whose works have been featured in major museums and galleries.
• Erin McDavitt: Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a loyal fan base.
• Robert McDavitt: Professional cameraman and director whose work has been featured in major motion pictures.
• Rebekah McDavitt: Illustrator whose art has been featured on book covers and in major magazines.
• Liz McDavitt: Professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor with credits in television commercial and stage shows.
• Sean McDavitt: International model with numerous upscale fashion campaigns.

Other surnames

McDavid