Surname MacEntee - Meaning and Origin
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MacEntee: What does the surname MacEntee mean?
The last name MacEntee is an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic Mac Aintí. The prefix “Mac” means “son of”, so the name literally translates to “son of Aintí”. The root Aintí is an anglicized form of the Gaelic word an tí, meaning “the house” or “the chief”. The MacEntee family was traced back historically to Uí Maine, an ancient Irish kingdom in the central western coastal area of what is now County Galway.
In terms of meaning today, it can be interpreted to mean someone from a leadership role, or someone who comes from a supportive, protective family environment. This is in keeping with the ancient Irish background from which the MacEntee family derived. It could be said that the family name is a legacy of that tradition.
The MacEntee name remains popular in Ireland today and is seen within the Irish diaspora around the world. It is an important part of Irish culture and heritage, and stands as a reminder of a family’s proud lineage and strong connection to the Emerald Isle.
Order DNA origin analysisMacEntee: Where does the name MacEntee come from?
The last name MacEntee is believed to be of Irish origin, and is most commonly seen in Ireland today. The majority of MacEntees found in Ireland are located in the province of Ulster, specifically in Counties Antrim and Derry. However, given the high population of Irish diaspora, there are also many MacEntees located around the world.
In the United States, MacEntees are most prevalent in New York, followed by California and New Jersey. An estimated 20,000 MacEntees live in the US today. The majority of Canadian MacEntees reside in Ontario, although smaller percentages can be found in British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta.
Many emigrants from Ireland and the United Kingdom have also taken the MacEntee name to a number of different countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and even as far afield as South Africa.
Overall, though the name may be few and far between, MacEntee is still a common name throughout the world with many proud bearers.
Variations of the surname MacEntee
The surname MacEntee is derived from an old Irish phrase, Mac an Taidh which means “son of the chieftain". The Irish surname is commonly found in places such as Ireland, Northern Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia. There are several variations and spellings of the surname, including MacIntee, MacInty, MacAnTaidh and MacAnTee.
The most common variant of the surname is MacIntee, which is an anglicized version of the original Gaelic Mac an Taidh. This spelling is quite common in countries such as Northern Ireland and Scotland. The MacInty variant is another form of the name, and can also be found in Northern Ireland.
The MacAnTaidh variant is the Scottish equivalent of Mac an Taidh and is mainly found in Scotland. The MacAnTee spelling is also found in Scotland and is the most frequently used spelling of the surname in that country.
The variants and spellings of the surname can also offer different surnames of the same origin. Common surnames of the same origin include MacAndy, MacCanty, McCanteay, McCantea, McCantey, and Maccanthy.
All of these surnames are of the same origin, and are descended from the original Mac an Taidh, simply expressed in different languages and dialects. All of the variations are still popular in the countries in which they are found, and most people who bear the surnames today are descended from the same ancient family.
Famous people with the name MacEntee
- Jack MacEntee: An American filmmaker who has directed numerous short films and music videos.
- Laird MacEntee: An American jazz violist who has toured with numerous famous jazz musicians.
- Tori MacEntee: An American singer and songwriter who has released several albums and EPs in the folk-pop genre.
- Sean MacEntee: An American politician and former Chairman of the Republican Party in California.
- Greg MacEntee: An American professional golfer who has won multiple PGA Tour events.
- Kevin MacEntee: An American actor who has appeared in a wide range of television series, films, and commercials.
- Logan MacEntee: An American medical scientist who is a leader in the research of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Joe MacEntee: An American computer scientist who is the co-founder of multiple artificial intelligence startups.
- Hayden MacEntee: An Australian professional surfer who is a two-time Billabong Pro champion.
- Nick MacEntee: An American football player who formerly played in the National Football League and is now a coach at the college level.