Surname McGhie - Meaning and Origin

McGhie: What does the surname McGhie mean?

McGhie is a Scottish last name with Gaelic origins. It is derived from the word "Mac Gaidh", meaning "son of the stranger". The term "stranger" in this context was probably used to refer to someone who was not native to the area or country. The name was likely given to people whose fathers were foreign or not belonging to the particular community in which the naming took place. This could include immigrants, traders from other lands, or invaders. Therefore, the name McGhie signifies a lineage that traces back to a "stranger" or an outsider. Although common in Scotland today, the name McGhie may have spread across the British Isles and beyond as part of the wider historic migrations and diasporas of the Scottish people.

McGhie: Where does the name McGhie come from?

The last name McGhie is of Scottish origin. It originates from the Gaelic name Mac Gadhra which means "son of Gadhra." Gadhra is a personal name which means "dog of God." This surname dates back to the period prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, making it a very ancient name. While it had various spellings throughout history, it appears in its present form or closely related variations in Scottish documents from the Medieval period.

Today, the surname McGhie is not very common overall, but its highest concentration can still be found in Scotland, particularly in the regions of East Lothian and Orkney. Outside of Scotland, it may be found in the countries of England and Australia, as well as the United States, usually among those of Scottish descent. Overall, due to widespread emigration from Scotland during the 19th and 20th centuries, the surname has a wider distribution than it may have had in the past.

Variations of the surname McGhie

The surname McGhie is of Scottish origin, deriving from the old Gaelic MagAoidh, which is a patronymic form of Aodh, the ancient personal name meaning "fire". Variations of the surname McGhie include but are not limited to MacGee, Magee, MacGhee, MacGie, and McGhee. Sometimes, the 'Mac' or 'Mc' (denoting 'son of') is dropped, and we get forms such as Ghee, Gee, and Gie.

The family was originally found in Dumfriesshire, around the 12th century. As time progressed and people started moving around, these various spellings arose due to phonetic translations and regional dialects. Sometimes the same individual's name was recorded differently in different documents leading to multiple spelling variants.

As a result, tracing the genealogy of the McGhie family could require looking at records under these different variant surnames. Despite these variations, all these names might indicate a common ancestry from the original Gaelic MacAoidh clan. In summary, there is a wide range of possible spellings and variants of the surname McGhie that could be encountered in genealogical research or in day-to-day life.

Famous people with the name McGhie

• Craig McGhie, professional ice hockey player
• Jennie McGhie, British actress
• Ed McGhie, British Scientist
• Robert McGhie, Professional Rugby Player
• Steve McGhie, Scottish Football Player
• Chris McGhie, British Singer
• Heather McGhie, British Screenwriter
• Shane McGhie, American Actor
• Chris McGhie, British Actor
• Frank McGhie, Scottish Footballer

Other surnames

McGhirr