Surname MacAready - Meaning and Origin
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MacAready: What does the surname MacAready mean?
The last name MacAready is of Scottish origin and has a few possible meanings.
The most likely origin is that it is a variant of the name MacCready which means ‘son of readiness’. This suggests that the original bearer of this surname was prepared or resolute in whatever they set their mind to.
Another possible meaning could be that it is a variation of the name McCabe, which means ‘son of streams’. This implies that the people with the MacAready surname had ancestral ties to a place near a river or stream in Scotland.
It is also possible that the name MacAready is derived from the Gaelic personal name Mac Gillicreadaigh, which means the ‘son of devotion or piety’. This could suggest that the original bearers of the name were devoted to God or to serve certain spiritual obligations.
Finally, it is believed that the name MacAready is a variation of the name Macardle, which has a Norman origin and likely comes from the Gaelic Mag Ardghail meaning ‘son of nobility’.
Thus, the last name MacAready has a variety of possible meanings all related to the original bearer of the name, from someone who was ready for battle to someone devoted to God or nobility.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAready: Where does the name MacAready come from?
The last name MacAready is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada, according to records. It is an Irish surname derived from the name Mac an Ráigh, which means "son of the king." It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Raith.
In the U.S., there are approximately 503 people with the surname MacAready. The states where they are most numerous are Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Texas. Canada has roughly 574 people, with the most being found in British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
In addition to the U.S. and Canada, the name MacAready also appears in Great Britain, Australia, Ireland, and Scotland. People with the last name MacAready can be found all over the world, though it is most commonly found in the countries listed above.
The MacAready family has a rich and varied history. Ancient records show that ancestors of the McCarty family were Celts who migrated from Scotland to Ireland in the early 1100s. They settled in the County Kerry and became powerful landowners in the area. The family later migrated to the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.
Today, the surname MacAready is still used by many families around the world. It is a testament to the strength and resilience of this ancient lineage.
Variations of the surname MacAready
The surname MacAready is derived from the Mac an Ráthaigh sept and is the anglicised version of Mac Raghnaill. The Mac an Ráthaighs were an old Irish family, based in County Sligo in the west of Ireland. The MacAready surname has many variants such as MacReady, MacRaghnaill, MacReedy, MacCreedy, MacRadey, MacRaghnaill, MacRadie, and MacAndrade.
The surname MacReady is most commonly found today and it is thought to have evolved from the original Mac an Ráthaigh. There are two main spellings for MacReady: MacReedy and MacReady. It is also sometimes spelt MacRadie.
MacAready is also sometimes anglicised into McRady and the spelling McReady is also in use. It is also Gaeilicised to MacRaghnaill. In some cases, the Gaeilic surname has been further anglicised to MacCreadie and MacAndrade.
The surnames MacReady and MacRaghnail are often interchanged, and the two should not be confused. The Mac an Ráthaigh clan was a relatively small family, numbering only around 1,500 people.
The MacAready name has spread around the world in the centuries following the Irish Diaspora. Today, the name can be found in the United States, Canada, Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. There are also a significant number of MacAready and McReady families in Argentina and Uruguay, descended from the Irish who emigrated to South American countries in the 19th century.
Famous people with the name MacAready
- Owen MacAready: American actor, starred in the films The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Blue Pool.
- Doug MacAready: Former professional basketball player who played for the Toronto Raptors.
- Julian MacAready: Member of the Chilliwack School Board in Canada.
- Angus MacAready: Award-winning Scottish filmmaker.
- Kay MacAready: Award-winning Canadian artist and filmmaker.
- Mark MacAready: English footballer and former youth team player for Manchester City.
- Patrick MacAready: Former rugby union player for the Ireland national team.
- Ruth MacAready: Canadian poet and author.
- Craig MacAready: Retired American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- John MacAready: Canadian actor, starred in the films Citizen X and The Martian.