Surname McFaiden - Meaning and Origin
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McFaiden: What does the surname McFaiden mean?
The last name McFaiden is a surname of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Fhionnghuin, which in turn originates from the Gaelic words fionn (‘fair’) and cunn (‘head’) combined to mean ‘fair-headed one’. It is an ancient surname and has been recorded in Scotland as far back as the fifteenth century.
McFaiden was originally a patronymic surname, which means it was derived from the name of an ancestor. This ancestor’s name would have been Fionnghuin, and those with this name would have been known as the ‘children of Fionnghuin’. As surnames came into use in Scotland, this became ‘McFaiden’.
The McFaidens were a clan in the old Scotland. They lived around Stirling in the early 1500s and had a reputation for bravery, industry and a great love of the land. Their chief held the lands of Colmal and a share of the land of Kingsmuir. The McFaidens were prominent in the politics of Scotland in the 1600s and were part of the Jacobite rising of 1715.
The McFaidens are still prosperous and numerous, and their name is still popular today in Scotland, as well as in countries such as Australia, Ireland and America. The McFaidens are still seen today as a proud and active Scottish family with a proud history and a bright future.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFaiden: Where does the name McFaiden come from?
The last name McFaiden is a very rare last name today and it is found primarily in the United States. The McFaiden family is most commonly found in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, though it can be traced back to Scotland and Ireland.
The McFaiden surname first appears in historical records during the 15th century in Scotland, where it is derived from the Gaelic "mac Fhaidein," meaning "son of Fhaidein." The surname McFaiden is featured in numerous heraldic arms or coats of arms throughout Europe.
Although the McFaiden surname is still present in some parts of the US, the numbers have severely declined in the UK and Ireland over the last few centuries due to emigration. It is thought to have disappeared almost entirely from Scotland.
In the US, the McFaiden family is still present in a number of areas, although numbers are still fairly low. Despite this, there are still many people with the McFaiden last name scattered throughout the country. Today, the McFaiden family can be found in large numbers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Smaller populations of McMaidens are found in Minnesota, South Dakota, Texas, and California.
Variations of the surname McFaiden
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname McFaiden are McFadin, McFadden, McFadin, MacFaddin, MacFadin, MacFadden, McFadyn, McPhadden, McFadyen, and McFadin.
McFaiden is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name MacFhaidhin, which likely originated from the Mac an Fhaidh, meaning “son of a bard.” This name would have been used to refer to a family whose male ancestor was a bard, or poetic storyteller.
The various spellings and surnames of McFaiden have their own individual variations. McPhadden is a variant of McFadden which is sometimes seen as an alternative to McFaiden. McFadyen is another variant that is an Anglicization of the Gaelic MacPhaidin. McFadin is a variant which is often interchangeable with McFadden, while several other variants contain the Gaelic Mac, such as MacFadden, MacFadin, and MacFaddin.
The Garrett family is a branch of the McFaiden surname which uses the alternative spelling McFadden. Before the 19th century, the Garretts were known as the MacFadden clan, however, the name was changed at some point in the 1800s.
Overall, the variant, spelling, and surnames associated with McFaiden are numerous and come from the Gaelic MacFhaidhin, a name used to refer to a person whose ancestry is linked to bards or storytellers.
Famous people with the name McFaiden
- Neil McFaiden: Scottish artist and former leader of a busker punk band called “The Blinders”.
- Rosy McFadden: British actress, model, and television presenter.
- Cameron McFadden: Canadian professional ice hockey player.
- Jackie McFadden: Canadian artist and designer specializing in textile art.
- Bill McFadden: American film and television actor, best known for his roles in the films 'Spy Kids' and 'The Insider'.
- Andy McFadden: Irish professional snooker player.
- Milo McFadden: American actor, known for his portrayal of the titular character in the hit Netflix series 'The Get Down'.
- Mike McFadden: American lawyer, politician, and former 2014 Senate candidate in Minnesota.
- John McFadden: Canadian actor, producer, and director.
- Andrew McFadden: Australian rugby league coach.