Surname MacCamish - Meaning and Origin

MacCamish: What does the surname MacCamish mean?

The last name MacCamish is a patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic language and is one of many surnames that end in “Mac” or “Mc”. The family name is most commonly found in Scotland, where it is recorded in numerous documents dating back to the 16th century.

The root of the name MacCamish is believed to be from the personal name Camas, which is a diminutive form of the given name Cameron, originating from the Scottish Gaelic word 'Camshron', meaning 'crooked nose'. This name could have been taken on by someone who had an unusually shaped nose.

Although originally Gaelic, the last name MacCamish evolved into a number of spellings and variants. It is most commonly seen as MacCamish, McCamish, and MacAmish. In some cases, families have even switched from one variant to another.

The name can also appear as M’Camish, M’Cammish, M’Camis, and Mackamish. Though these all share the same patronymical etymology, their historical origins date back to different parts of Scotland.

Today, the last name MacCamish is still found throughout Scotland and extends beyond its borders due to Scottish emigration in years past. The MacCamish name is a proud part of Scottish heritage, with an interesting origin story.

MacCamish: Where does the name MacCamish come from?

The MacCamish surname is mainly found in Scotland, particularly in the Argyll and Isles region. It is also common in Northern Ireland and parts of Canada. Historically, the name MacCamish dates back to a once powerful Scottish clan that was located mainly in the areas of Lorn, Craignish, and Appin in Argyll and the Isles in the 14th century.

The name is most heavily concentrated today in Scotland where approximately 1,500 individuals still bear the name. It is also common in Northern Ireland, mainly around Belfast and Derry, where approximately 500 individuals are still living with the MacCamish surname. The surname is also found in various parts of Canada, mainly British Columbia, where the largest concentration is in the city of Vancouver. The MacCamish surname can also be found in England, the United States, and Australia in small numbers.

The name MacCamish is still relatively common in Scotland and Northern Ireland today, however, its prevalence is not quite what it once was. It is likely that the smaller scale of migrations and settlements in Scotland, combined with intermarriage and changing surnames in the form of Clan name, over the centuries has meant that the MacCamish surname has slowly decreased in number.

Variations of the surname MacCamish

The surname MacCamish is a well-known Scottish surname that can be found in historical documents dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic Mac Caimbeis, which originated from the personal name Camas. Some variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:

McCamis

McCamish

McComish

MacComas

MacCamish

MacComish

MacComesh

MacCamis

MacComas

Maccomes

MacKamis

MacKamish

MacKomis

MacKomish

MacKomeish

Mackomes

McKames

McKamish

McKomes

McKamish

MacCames

McCamish

McComes

McCamish

McComish

MacComes

MacGomes

McGomes

McComesh

MacGomesh

MacGaimis

McGaimish

MacGaimish

McGamesh

McGaimes

MacGaimes

McGaimis

MacGaimesh

MacGaimesh

McGaimesh

The MacCamish surname is a part of Scots-Irish ancestry and has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, particularly in North America. It is often found spelled differently in various records, so those researching their MacCamish ancestry will need to keep a keen eye out for alternative spellings.

Famous people with the name MacCamish

• Rupert MacCamish: former Scottish rugby union player
• David MacCamish: Korean-American film director
• Calum MacCamish: Scottish mixed martial artist
• Lisa MacCamish: British Olympic archer
• David Angus MacCamish: Canadian businessman
• Gilda MacCamish: Brazilian actress
• Mace MacCamish: member of the British rock band Duran Duran
• Simon MacCamish: Scottish footballer
• Rob MacCamish: UK television presenter and fundraiser
• Kieran MacCamish: Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

Other surnames

MacCamie