Surname McFadin - Meaning and Origin
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McFadin: What does the surname McFadin mean?
The last name McFadin is a Scottish and Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Phaidin. In ancient Irish, the root of the name originated as Mac Phaidin (son of little Patrick), and was first used to describe the offspring of a well-known Irish saint, Patrick (Pádraig). The Gaelic spelling of McFadin, Mac Phaidin, can be broken down further to Mac (son of) and 'phaidin' (or 'páidin'), which translates to “little Patrick” or “the diminutive form of Patrick.”
The surname appears to have first established itself in the northern region of Scotland, and likely arrived there by way of migrating descendents of the Mac Phaidin family in Ireland. As the family line spread throughout Scotland, the name became Anglicized and morphed to McFadin.
Today, McFadin is found mainly in Scotland and Ireland, and some parts of the United States. The coat of arms for McFadin includes a blue shield with a gold lion on the base, both symbols of strength and courage.
Among notable descendants of Scottish-Irish heritage and bearing the McFadin name is professional American football player Carl McFadin, who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos.
The McFadin surname is a proud representation of the strong bonds of family and Celtic heritage. It is a symbol of ancient Irish roots and strength, and carries with it an inspiring legacy of courage, faith, and resilience.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFadin: Where does the name McFadin come from?
The McFadin surname is of Scottish origin and is most commonly found in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. The earliest McFadin immigrants settled in the British American colonies in the 1700s, primarily in what would eventually become Pennsylvania.
McFadins remained in the region throughout the 19th century, many working as farmers, cobblers, millers, and iron workers, among other professions. In the mid-1800s, there was also a wave of McFadins migrating from Scotland to Canada and the United States and settling in Midwestern states like Michigan, Iowa and Ohio.
Today, the McFadin surname is still common in many parts of the United States, particularly in the southern states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. McFadins can also be found in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The largest population of McFadins is still in Pennsylvania, the state where the earliest McFadin immigrants settled.
Internationally, McFadins can be found in Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, and Scotland. There are likely many McFadins around the world who do not yet know the origin of their family name.
Variations of the surname McFadin
The surname McFadin has its roots in the ancient Scottish/Irish Gaelic surnames of Mac Fhadaoin and Mac Phadaoin. These surnames can be found in various Scotland and Irish clan histories and are believed to refer to the same origin. Other variants and spellings for McFadin include MacFadden, MacFaden, McFadden, McFaddan, McFaddens, McFaden, McFadin, McFaddens, McFarding, McFodden, McFoddin, McFodden, MacFodden, MacFoddin, and MacFodden.
Some of these variants and alternate spellings may be more common in certain regions and countries than others. In the United States, for example, McFadden is the most common variant. In Ireland, MacFadden is the most common variant, while in Scotland MacPhadaoin is the most often seen. In the United Kingdom, McFadding, McFaddingston, and McFadinger are some of the most common variants.
As with many surnames of Scottish/Irish Gaelic origin, there are a number of traditional clans associated with the surname McFadin. Clan McFadin, Fadden, and MacFadden are among the more common clans, as well as the Scottish clans of MacDonald and Cameron.
Variants and spellings of the McFadin surname may have been adopted for a number of reasons, including convenience or the desire to create a unique identity. For example, the Geschrieben-McFaddins of Pennsylvania adopted this spelling to differentiate their family from other McFaddins in the area. In other cases, the change in spelling might be indicative of the transition from one language to another, for example shifting from Scottish or Irish Gaelic to English.
Famous people with the name McFadin
- Kay McFadin, American model, 1976
- Nashville McFadin, American stunt performer, 1969
- Tamsen Mcfadin, American television producer, 1968
- Jay Don McFadin, American country music singer and songwriter, 1988
- Bob McFadin, Major League Baseball pitcher, 1929
- John McFadin, American musician, 1950
- Trousdale McFadin, American country music songwriter, 1958
- Davyson McFadin, American actor, 1988
- Gervis McKersie McFadin, American historian and educator, 1960
- Collin McFadin, American engineer and test pilot, 1965
- Donovan Mcfadin, American basketball player, 1994
- Winston McFadin, American cartoonist and illustrator, 1993
- Meredith McFadin, American educator and administrator, 1970
- Kris McFadin, American soccer player, 1970
- Shana McFadin, American businessperson, 1971
- Paul McFadin, Computer Scientist at Oracle and PhD candidate at Stanford, 2000
- Paige McFadin, American anchor and reporter, 2004
- Justin McFadin, American former collegiate basketball player, 2011
- Matt McFadin, American professional soccer player, 2011
- Malik McFadin, American actor, 2011