Surname McGee - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling the Celtic Roots of McGee: An iGENEA DNA Analysis Journey
Discovering the ancient roots and intriguing history of my family name - McGee, was an enlightening experience. iGENEA's dynamic DNA analysis effectively traced my lineage back to the Celtic lands, unravelling the profound influence of the McGee in the Middle Ages.
B. McGee
read moreMcGee: What does the surname McGee mean?
The surname McGee is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Aodha," which means "son of Aodh." Aodh, also known as Aed, is an old Gaelic name which translates to "fire" and was popularly conferred upon the ancient Celtic gods. Thus, the surname McGee could be loosely interpreted as "son of fire." This name began to appear around the 10th century in the northern part of Ireland, particularly in Donegal County. As such, the McGee surname is prevalent among those of Irish descent, but the spelling can vary, and it may also be seen as Magee. Like many surnames of Gaelic origin steeped in history and folklore, it speaks a valuable story of its native Ireland and the familial generations it has marked. Today, the McGee surname is spread across many English-speaking countries, resulting from Irish immigration, and is particularly common in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGee: Where does the name McGee come from?
The last name McGee is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Old Gaelic surname "Mac Aodha," meaning "son of Aodh" or "son of Hugh." Aodh is an ancient personal name, traditionally associated with the meaning of "fire" and originally belonging to the Celtic god of the sun. During the Middle Ages, the surname was largely contained within the region of Tirconnell, an area in the northwestern part of Ireland. Over time, offspring of the original Mac Aodha would have taken on the surname, evolving into its modern form as McGee.
Today, the surname McGee is common in several English-speaking countries, particularly in Northern Ireland and the United States due to the historical emigration patterns. However, it remains prevalent in its native Ireland, especially in the counties of Donegal and Monaghan. The name is also moderately common in Scotland and Canada. The diaspora of Irish people throughout the world has spread the name far and wide, thus it can be found in many other countries as well.
Variations of the surname McGee
The surname McGee, of Irish origin, has seen several variations in its spelling over the centuries due to regional accents, phonetic spellings, and anglicization. This surname is derived from "Mag Aodha," which translates to "son of Hugh." Some common variants include Magee, MacGee, M'Gee, McGehee, M'Gehee, Gee, and McGhee.
"Mc" is a prefix in Irish surnames that means "son of", and it can also be spelled as "Mac". The ’ (apostrophe) in "M'Gee" and "M'Gehee" shows that letters have been omitted, a common method to anglicize Irish surnames.
The surname McGee can also be subjected to phonetic spelling changes, typically to maintain the name's original pronunciation. For example, "MacGee" is close to the pronunciation of the original Irish form.
The variant "Magee" is widely used in Northern Ireland. The surname "Gee" functions as a shortened form of "McGee". The variants "McGehee" and "McGhee" likely developed in the southern United States, probably due to phonetic translation and spelling.
It is important to note that different spellings can still refer to the same lineage, as the alterations were typically intended to preserve the phonetic sound rather than create a new surname.
Famous people with the name McGee
- J.P. McGee: Professional former American football player.
- Phil McGee: Renowned motorcycle drag racer.
- Ted McGee: Famous U.S. powerboat racer from the 1970s.
- Tatum McGee: Well-known American softball player.
- JaVale McGee: NBA Champion and professional basketball player. He's played for several teams, including the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
- Jerry McGee: Known for his career in professional golf, he also served as a president for the PGA.
- Patrick McGee: Acclaimed British actor recognized for his work in films such as "A Clockwork Orange" and "Barry Lyndon".
- Percy McGee: He's well known in American football having played for teams like the LA Clippers and the San Diego Chargers.
- Willie McGee: Retired professional baseball player. He played for teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, and is a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.
- Molly McGee: Not an actual person, but a titular character in the animated Disney television show, “The Ghost and Molly McGee”.