Surname McGahey - Meaning and Origin

McGahey: What does the surname McGahey mean?

McGahey is a surname which originated from Scotland, and is derived from the Gaelic phrase "Mac Thaidhg", meaning "son of Thaidhg". Thaidhg is a Gaelic masculine name meaning "poet" or "philosopher". This surname is common throughout Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, as well as Ireland and Northern England.

McGahey is an ancient Scottish surname of noble origins which dates back to the medieval period. During this time, wealthy families paid a form of tax which was known as 'heriots' or 'grievance feuds', which were a form of compensation for a slain family member. The McGaheys were a wealthy family who paid such taxes.

The McGaheys have since become prominent in multiple areas of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, where they are known for their religious, economic and literary accomplishments. For example, the Rev. Angus McGahey was considered to be a pillar of the local church community, while his brother, General Ross McGahey, was one of Scotland's leading politicians of the time.

It is also believed that the McGaheys were passionate supporters of Scotland’s music, literature and drama, and that the family was heavily involved in these areas. As a result of their creative talents, the McGaheys have left a lasting imprint on the culture of Scotland.

To conclude, McGahey is an ancient surname of Scotland which is steeped in history. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic phrase “Mac Thaidhg”, meaning “son of Thaidhg”. The family is renowned for their achievements in the areas of religion, politics, economics and the arts, and is still prominent in parts of Scotland today.

McGahey: Where does the name McGahey come from?

The last name McGahey is most commonly found in Canada and the United States. In the US, states with the highest concentration of people with the McGahey surname include Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

In Canada, the name is primarily found in Ontario. However, some people named McGahey can also be found in the provinces of Quebec and Alberta.

The McGahey name has been absent from its place of origin – Ireland – for centuries. Despite this, there are still some people with the surname in the Irish Republic.

McGahey is primarily a Scottish-Irish surname, from the Scottish Gaelic Macaoidh or the Irish Mac Aoidh. It is believed the name came to Scotland centuries ago with the migration of the Gaels into the Highlands.

Overall, McGahey is still predominantly found in North America, primarily in Canada and the United States. It is an uncommon last name, and the majority of those who have the name there are descended from Irish and Scottish immigrants who settled in the countries hundreds of years ago.

Variations of the surname McGahey

The surname McGahey has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include MacGahey, McGahee, MacGahee, McGehee, MacGehee, MacGehey, Gehee, Gehey, Geay, Gee, McGhee and Magee.

The prefix “Mc” or “Mac” means “son of” and is often found in Irish and Scottish surnames. The McGahey surname originated in Ireland and Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic personal name “MacGaoith”, which means “son of Gaoth”. “Gaoth” is a byname that means “wind” in Gaelic.

McGahey is a fairly common surname, mostly seen in Ireland and the United States. It is the 28,363rd most common surname in the world and is most prevalent in Ireland, where it ranks as the 1,945th most common surname.

The variants of the surname are mostly seen in Ireland and the United States, but they can also be found in Canada, England, Scotland and Australia. Variants of the McGahey surname in Scotland are MacGahey and McGahee, while variants of the McGahey surname in Ireland are MacGahey and MacGehey.

Outside of Ireland and Scotland, the surname variants of McGahey are mainly seen in the United States, where variants such as McGehee, MacGehee and Gehey are most common. In the United States, the McGahey surname is particularly common in the states of Alabama and Mississippi.

In Canada, the variants of McGahey are mostly found in Ontario and Quebec and include McGhee and Magee. In England, the most common variant of the surname is Geay, while in Australia and New Zealand the variants MacGehey and MacGahee are most common.

Famous people with the name McGahey

• Neil McGahey: Scottish professional footballer who has played for Partick Thistle, Celtic, and other clubs.
• Henry McGahey: Scottish sculptor, best known for the Kelpies, two large horse-head sculptures located on the Forth and Clyde Canal in Scotland.
• Ross McGahey: Actor who starred in the short horror film "The Fox and the Hound".
• Luke McGahey: Professional MMA fighter and 2x World Amateur Champion in martial arts
• Thomasina McGahey: English actress, known for her appearances in films such as "Miss Marple: A Pocket Full of Rye" and "The Little Stranger"
• Amanda McGahey: Singer, songwriter, and actress, best known for her work on The Ellen Show and multiple television commercials.
• James McGahey: Member of the British House of Commons from 1784-1790.
• Jameson McGahey: Professional surfer and competitive bodyboarder from California.
• David McGahey: Former Scottish footballer, who played for clubs such as Airdrieonians and Queen of the South.
• Grant McGahey: American artist and creator of the "Urban Pacific" series of oil paintings and wood carvings.

Other surnames

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