Surname McFie - Meaning and Origin
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McFie: What does the surname McFie mean?
The surname McFie is of Scottish origin, derived from Gaelic Mac Dhubhshith, which means "son of Dubhshith". McFie belongs to a category of surnames known as patronymic, which are formed by adopting the given name of a father or paternal ancestor. The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' commonly indicates 'son of'.
The individual elements in the name "Dubhshith" have specific meanings: “dubh” translates to "black" and "shith" refers to "peace". Therefore, the surname can be interpreted as "son of the dark one of peace" or "son of the black peace".
The McFie surname is especially connected to the Scottish islands of Colonsay and Oronsay, with a clan history dating back to the early 16th century. Notably, their clan motto "Pro Rege", translates to "for the King". Different variations of the name include Macfie, MacPhee, MacPhie, MacFee, and more. Despite the tragic history of the clan being dispersed after the 17th century, the present-day clan continues to celebrate their legacy and has even appointed a clan commander, recognizing their historic roots.
Order DNA origin analysisMcFie: Where does the name McFie come from?
The surname McFie is of Scottish origin, derived from the ancient Gaelic personal name "Dubhshìth", which translates to "black peace". This personal name is a blend of "dubh", meaning black, and "sìth", meaning peace. The name primarily came from the Western Isles region of Scotland.
The surname was first found in Inverness-shire, mainly in the regions of Skye and Lewis. The McFies were a branch of the MacDonald clan and their historical seat was located at Colonsay. They suffered greatly during the 17th century Scottish clan feuds and their population was greatly reduced.
Today, the name, in various spelling forms such as McFie, McPhee, and MacFie, is scattered worldwide due to migration. However, it is still most common in Scotland, particularly in the highlands and islands. It can also be found in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite its distribution, it remains a relatively uncommon surname.
Variations of the surname McFie
The surname McFie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name "Mac Dhuibhshíthe," meaning "black peace." It is believed to have originated in the Island of Colonsay in Scotland. Variations of this name have developed over the centuries due to factors such as regional dialects, phonetic spellings, and translation errors.
Alternative spellings of the surname McFie include McPhee, MacFie, MacPhee, MacPhee, MacFy, McPhie, MacDuffie, MacDuffee, MacDuffy, and MacPhie. Please note that in Scottish naming conventions, "Mac" and "Mc" often imply the same thing, indicating "son of."
The surname McFie might have also been anglicized to Duffie, Duffey, or Duffy. These names also evolved from the Gaelic name "Dubh," meaning "black," and are considered to be from the same origin.
Overall, while McFie's direct variants might not be widely dispersed, the roots of this name can be found in several surnames in Scottish and Irish cultures.
Famous people with the name McFie
1.Hugh McFie (1902–1965), Canadian professional ice hockey player 2.Ian McFie (born c. 1932), British doctor, former member of the British House of Commons 3.John Mcfie (1890-1973), Canadian professional ice hockey player 4.Mark McFie (born 1971), Canadian actor 5.Terrance McFie (born 1966), Canadian professional baseball player 6.Stephen McFie (born 1976), British business executive 7.Jack McFie (born 1931), Canadian professional ice hockey coach 8.Hugh MacFie (born 1920), Scottish Liberal Democrat politician 9.John McFie (born 1944), British priest and Christian pastor 10.Gary McFie (born 1969), Canadian professional ice hockey player