Surname MacComaidh - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacComaidh: What does the surname MacComaidh mean?
The last name MacComaidh is of Gaelic origin and is typically associated with people from Scotland or Ireland. In Gaelic, "Mac" means "son of", while "Comaidh" is believed to derive from the word “cam” meaning “bent” or “crooked.” Therefore, MacComaidh might translate to "son of the crooked or bent one" possibly referring to a person with a physical deformity or someone who is metaphorically crooked or devious. However, interpretations may vary as surnames often referred to a person’s occupation, location, or a distinguishing personal characteristic in olden times. As with many Gaelic surnames, the name has various spellings which include MacCombie, McCombie, MacComie, McComie, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisMacComaidh: Where does the name MacComaidh come from?
The Scottish surname MacComaidh, anglicised as MacMahon, is still an extremely common one in Scotland and Ireland today. It is most often associated with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, where it is the most common surname in the area, as well as the second most common in County Tyrone.
However, MacMahon is also still a common name throughout the rest of Scotland and Ireland. It is the 18th most common surname in Scotland and remains fairly frequent in Northern Ireland as a whole. It is a less common surname in the Republic of Ireland, but is still one of the most prominent surnames in the country.
The MacMahon form of the name is derived from the more ancient Gaelic version, MacComaidh. Historically, the name is thought to have originated with the MacMahon family of Dál gCais, who ruled over lands in the current counties of Clare and Tipperary in Ireland from the mid-tenth century. The name has since spread throughout much of Ireland and Scotland, although MacMahon remains particularly associated with the fomer Dál gCais lands in the west of Ireland.
Variations of the surname MacComaidh
The surname MacComaidh is a variant of the surname McComish, MacCormish, MacCormack, and MacCormack. All of these surnames originated as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Comhthaigh, which is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Comhthaigh, which translates to ‘son of the hound’.
This surname was initially found in the Scottish highlands as a surname indicating a family of ancient noble origin, and thus was used in various regions by families of noble heritage. Hence, the surname appears in various forms, due to the Anglicization of the Scottish spelling of Comhthaigh and the fact that some families adopted it outside of Scotland and Ireland.
The variant MacComaidh has also undergone spelling variations, such as MacCormack, MacCorish, MacCormish, and MacCormish. Some of these spellings are more common in certain parts of Ireland and Scotland, while other spellings can be found across informal regions throughout the world.
The most common variant of MacComaidh is McComish in Scotland. It is important to note that the variant ‘Comaidh’ may also be found as the spelling ‘Cormish’, along with ‘Cormack’, although both of these variants may also appear as variants of the surname ‘McComish’.
In conclusion, the surname MacComaidh is an anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Mac Comhthaigh, which translates to ‘son of the hound’. It is the variant of several surnames, including McComish, MacCormish, MacCormack, and MacCormack and may appear in several spellings depending on regional variations.
Famous people with the name MacComaidh
- Mark MacComaidh: Former professional Gaelic footballer for Ireland's Donegal County team.
- Dáithí MacComaidh: Award-winning documentary filmmaker and visual artists.
- Niall MacComaidh: Academic, Professor of Irish Studies at both University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin.
- Pádraig MacComaidh: Irish language historian and author.
- Cearbhall MacComaidh: Renowned flautist, harpist, and uilleann piper.
- Peadar MacComaidh: Professional chef, restaurant owner, and television personality.
- Aodh MacComaidh: Politician and former Member of Parliament for the Irish Labour Party.
- Calum MacComaidh: Scottish principal dancer for the Royal Ballet.
- Sorcha MacComaidh: Irish actor known for her roles in the popular television series Vikings and in Sofia Coppola’s film adaptation of The Beguiled.
- Gearóid MacComaidh: Award-winning poet, writer, visual artist, and folklorist.