Surname McFadyn - Meaning and Origin
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McFadyn: What does the surname McFadyn mean?
The last name McFadyn (sometimes spelled McFadin or MacFadin) is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic root Mac Fháidhín, meaning "son of little Patrick". Traditionally, McFadyn is an anglicized form of the Irish surname MacPháidín, which itself is a diminutive form of the given name Padraig, or Patrick.
The name can be traced back to the 12th century, when Gaelic names were widely used in Ireland. It is believed that the MacFadyns were an ancient clan of the O'Dowda of the territory of Tirawley, in northern County Mayo, where the clan was said to have been in the area since 1250.
McFadyn is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic patronymic names, as it was brought to Ireland by Scottish settlers during the Plantation of Ulster in the 1600's. Records show a concentration of the name in Co. Down as well as other parts of northern Ireland during this period.
The surname McFadyn appears in the United States census records, primarily in the southern states, where the McFadyns were among the first wave of Irish families to immigrate to the U.S. in the mid to late 1900s. The McFadyn name appears in Co. Down, Co. Londonderry, Co. Antrim, Co. Tyrone and Co. Mayo.
Today, the last name McFadyn is mainly found in Ireland, North America and Australia. It continues to be a popular Irish surname, reflecting the proud Gaelic heritage of the Irish clans that settled in Ireland centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFadyn: Where does the name McFadyn come from?
The last name McFadyn is common is parts of Ireland, Ireland's diaspora, and Scotland today. It is not a particularly common name in the Irish community, but it is known.
McFadyn is thought to be an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname Mac Fhadaín, which is derived from the phrase "seanfhada", meaning "old and wise". The Gaelic "Mac" prefix is added to indicate a patronymic meaning "son of".
Remnant clans of McFadyns and their descendants are found primarily throughout Ireland and Scotland, as well as large coastal cities with strong Irish-American populations, such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Most McFadyns in the U.S. originate from Ireland. Variations on the surname that sometimes appear include McFadden, Mcfadden, or McFadin.
Today, the McFadyn surname has become part of the fabric of the Celtic cultures, and many individuals with the surname trace their ancestry to Ireland. Members of the family have carved out a unique place in history as Irish immigrants, missionaries, and pioneers of American life.
Variations of the surname McFadyn
The surname McFadyn is of Scottish and Irish origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variant spellings of McFadyn include McFaddin, MacFaddin and MacFaden. It is also the Anglicised version of the Gaelic Mac Fhádáin surname.
A few of the less common variants of the surname McFadyn include McFadden, MacFaddan, MacFadden, MacFaddin, MacFaden, Mac Vadden, MacFadyen, and McFayden.
The main variants of the surname McFadyn include McDonnell, McDonald, McDonnells, McDonell, McDonalds, McDonells, McDonell, O'Donnel, and O'Donnell. All of these derivatives are derived from the Gaelic “MacDonnell” which is the Anglicised version of McFadyn.
The surname McFadyn is also found as a prefix to different surnames in Scotland such as McHardy, McQuade, McHughes, McPherson, McTaggart, McWilliam, and McArthur. As a result, McFadyn may also occur as a middle name.
McFadyn is also commonly found as an alternative spelling of McFadyen which means “son of Fadyn” and is also found as McFadden, Faden, and Fadden.
The surname McFadyn is found in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland and is still quite common today.
Famous people with the name McFadyn
- Bill McFadyen: Politician
- Bobby McFadyen: Professional footballer
- Colin McFadyen: Former North American Superbike Champion
- Dave McFadyen: Indoor Skydiving World Champion
- George McFadyen: Former professional hockey player
- Keith McFadyen: Bassist for the band Big Country
- Lynne McFadyen: Scottish solicitor
- Mike McFadyen: Professional skateboarder and surfer
- Murray McFadyen: Canadian professional wrestler
- Paul McFadyen: Former British Army officer