Surname MacCooish - Meaning and Origin
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MacCooish: What does the surname MacCooish mean?
The surname MacCooish is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Cuinnish, meaning “son of the chieftain”. It is most commonly seen with its traditional spelling of MacCooish.
The MacCooish ancestry can be traced back to the ancient kingdom of Dalriada, which is now the modern region of Argyll and Bute in western Scotland. The first known person bearing the MacCooish surname was Fergus Mac Cuinnish, who is believed to have lived in the late 13th century.
The clan MacCooish is associated with the MacDonalds of Clanranald in the western Highlands, and it is believed that members of the clan served as retainers to the MacDonalds. It is possible that they eventually became part of the MacDonalds of Clanranald.
Many modern-day MacCooish families are still to be found in Scotland, mainly in the western Highlands, but also in areas such as Inverness-shire, Ross-shire, Perthshire, and Aberdeenshire.
The MacCooish family motto “Nil Desperandum” means “never despair”, and is often seen engraved on MacCooish family crests. This may be indicative of the resilience of the MacCooish clan throughout the centuries and their dedication to preserving their heritage and identity.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCooish: Where does the name MacCooish come from?
The last name MacCooish is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Islands. The name is thought to be of Scottish origin and it is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic MacDhomhnuill. This is usually translated as ‘son of Donald’.
The name is quite rare and is found sporadically throughout Scotland. Apart from Scotland, the family name can also be found in Canada, United States, New Zealand and Australia, all of which were once British colonies. It is likely that many of the MacCooish family descended from immigrants originating from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who went to settle in the aforementioned countries.
At present, there are about 300 people worldwide who have the last name MacCooish. The highest concentration can be found in the Scottish city of Glasgow, but the name is also common in other parts of Scotland, particularly Aberdeen and Edinburgh. There also appear to be a few MacCooish households located in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Despite being a rare name, the MacCooish family is still alive and active across the globe today, having spread from its Highland and Island roots.
Variations of the surname MacCooish
The surname MacCooish is an Anglicized spelling of the Scottish Gaelic name Mac Cuish. This family name is found primarily in Scotland and Canada, particularly in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as MacCooish. These include MacCuish, MacQuish, MacKwish, and McKwish. The prefix ‘Mac’ means son of and 'Cuish' can be interpreted to mean ‘helpful’ or ‘wise’, making the entire surname mean 'son of the helpful one’ or 'son of the wise one’.
The surname is also found with various spelling variations such as MacCushe, MacQuish, MacQwish, MacKwiish, MacQuese, MacQuisse, MacQuest, McCushe, McCuish, McCwish, McCwisse, McKese, MK emoji, McKoise, and McQuest. These variations have evolved as the language of Scottish Gaelic and English have changed over time.
The associated names of MacCooish are Cooish, Cuish, Cwish, Quish, and Quest. These surnames are found mainly in the regions of Pictou County, Nova Scotia and in Prince Edward Island.
In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacCooish are MacCuish, MacQuish, MacKwish, McKwish, MacCushe, MacQuish, MacQwish, MacKwiish, MacQuese, MacQuisse, MacQuest, McCushe, McCuish, McCwish, McCwisse, McKese, MK emoji, McKoise, McQuest, Cooish, Cuish, Cwish, Quish, and Quest.
Famous people with the name MacCooish
- Peter MacCooish: Scottish actor known for his appearances in films such as Braveheart, Highlander, and Trainspotting, as well as television shows such as Monarch of the Glen and Doctor Who.
- Gordon MacCooish: award-winning British journalist and foreign correspondent. He was the Europe editor for the BBC and has written books such as The Sun in the Sky, The Devil and the Dolice, and Looking for Trouble.
- Angus MacCooish: Scottish folk musician who released the albums Journeyman and The Croft in the Past.
- Rory MacCooish: Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist who has released six studio albums and numerous singles.
- Amy MacCooish: Scottish fashion designer who has been nominated for a British Fashion Award and has designed for some of the world’s largest fashion houses.
- Murdo MacCooish: Scottish music producer who has worked with bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Chvrches, and Belle and Sebastian.
- Andrew MacCooish: Scottish writer who penned the historical novels Dark Valley and The Last Galley.
- Alice MacCooish: British painter whose pop-art works have been exhibited in major galleries and museums across Europe.
- Angus MacCooish: Scottish folk musician who has toured with the likes of Capercaillie and The Corries.
- Donald MacCooish: Scottish author of historical fiction books such as Dr. Frankenstein and Over the Knee.