Surname MacComich - Meaning and Origin
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MacComich: What does the surname MacComich mean?
The last name MacComich is derived from the Gaelic word Mac Comhich which roughly translates to "son of the son of Comhich". Comhich is a personal name derived from the Old Gaelic "cummaech" meaning son of battle. This may indicate a connection to a past warrior ancestor, likely of Gaelic or Irish heritage.
The Mac prefix corresponds to the Irish and Scottish surnames MacDhomhnuill, which is Anglicised as “MacDonald”. The name is interesting, as many Gaelic surnames indicate family or clan affiliations while MacComich likely references an individual ancestor from the past.
The name MacComich is also found in the Scottish regions of Kinross and Clackmannanshire, as well as Galway, County Galway in Ireland and is derived from the Middle Gaelic “MacCumhich” or “MacComech”. The use of Mac in the surname suggests the person was of a respected rank, such as a chieftain.
As such, the surname MacComich implies a powerful lineage, representing a person of strength and courage which goes back centuries. The person is likely of Scottish or Irish descent, and is likely descended from a great warrior.
Order DNA origin analysisMacComich: Where does the name MacComich come from?
The surname MacComich is commonly found today in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of North America. The name has origins in the Scottish, Irish, and Celtic languages. It is not known exactly when the surname was first used.
In Scotland, the surname MacComich is most commonly seen in the highland regions, particularly near Loch Ness. The region around Loch Ness has long been influenced by both the Scots and Gaels, which may explain the popularity of the surname.
In Ireland, the surname MacComich is more uncommon, but can be found mainly in counties Clare, Cork, and Kerry. It is believed that the surname was introduced to Ireland in the early 19th century, most likely by immigrants from Scotland.
In North America, MacComich is seen most often in Canada and the United States. Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought the surname to North America during the mid-19th century. The provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Newfoundland all have sizable populations of MacComichs. In the United States, the surname is found mainly in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
Overall, the surname MacComich is widely dispersed geographically, and is still quite common in its traditional areas of origin.
Variations of the surname MacComich
The surname MacComich is a sept of clan MacDougall and is of Scottish origin. Derived from the Celtic pre-10th century elements "Caimbeul" meaning "crooked mouth" or "bent nose", and "dubh" translated, as "black", it is a patronymic form of the personal given name "Caimbeul". Alternative spellings and variants of the surname include MacCombie, MacComb, MacKomb, MacCumbe, Makcome, Makcoume, MacQuombe, and McCombie. It is also sometimes spelled with a double "m", as in MacCombee, MacCombie, or MacCombey.
The surname is most prevalent in Scotland, where it was originally associated with the Argyllshire area on the western coast of Scotland. It has also been found in Ireland, where it was found mainly in County Donegal. It has spread to other countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations in the surname, which can also be Anglicized as "Comby," have been found in England, where the name is most often found in Shropshire and Yorkshire. In the United States, many of the variants of the surnames are found in the southeastern states, primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Overall, there is a range of spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacComich. These include MacCombie, MacComb, MacKomb, MacCumbe, Makcome, Makcoume, MacQuombe, McCombie, MacCombee, MacCombie, MacCombey, Comby, and others. In different countries and regions, the surname may be more common with one variant or another.
Famous people with the name MacComich
- Duncan MacComich: a Canadian politician who served as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Central Nova from 1993 to 2000.
- William MacComich Jr.: an American politician who served as the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007.
- Angus MacComich: a Scottish poet and playwright.
- Darryl MacComich: a Canadian ice hockey centre from the Ontario Hockey League.
- Billy MacComich: a Canadian medal-winning sailor who represented Canada at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
- Mary MacComich: a Scottish-born Canadian painter and environmentalist.
- Robert MacComich: a Canadian artist and one of the foremost modernists in Canada.
- Harry MacComich: a Canadian professional ice hockey player from the National Hockey League.
- James MacComich: a Canadian civil engineer and the first president of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
- Archibald MacComich: an Australian politician, miner and publicist.