Surname MacEvatt - Meaning and Origin
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MacEvatt: What does the surname MacEvatt mean?
The last name MacEvatt is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac an Ibhaidh, meaning “son of the bishop” or “son of the man of the church.” The name refers to the MacEvatt family’s profession in the Middle Ages of being churchmen and religious figures. The surname is found mainly in the Scottish region of Fife and Galloway, although many bearers of the MacEvatt also moved to Ireland.
The MacEvatt clan often had the role of providing spiritual leadership to their people. They became quite respected in their communities and some even rose to become Rector of the Church of Scotland. This increased their social standing and led to a recognition in the society of their time.
The MacEvatt’s were often involved in politics due to their standing in the church and the community. They were aware of the political situation of the country in which they lived, and their opinions carried weight.
Today, MacEvatt is an extremely common name, and there are many bearers of it scattered across the world. It is a proud surname that carries with it a respect for the past and a deep meaning: son of the bishop. The family’s legacy is one of importance and responsibility, and its effects endures to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisMacEvatt: Where does the name MacEvatt come from?
The last name MacEvatt can be particularly common in Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland. It is an Anglicised form of the Irish surname “MacEabhaidh”, which translates to “son of Eabha” – Eabha being a female Gaelic personal name of unknown origin.
In Scotland the name is most common in Perthshire and is generally spelt McEvatt or MacEvatt. Records suggest that the name was first given to people living in the lands of Callander, near Aberfoyle in Perthshire. Records of this name in Ireland date back to the mid 16th century, with a number of variants such as MacAvatt, MacEvett, MacEvoy, MacEvitt, MacEwan, and MacEwen.
The most recent statistics within Northern Ireland from the 2017 Council of Europe survey show that MacEvatt is amongst the top 250 surnames in the country. It is far more common in the northeast, particularly in County Derry, where it is the 87th most common surname; County Tyrone where it is the 136th most common surname; and County Antrim where it is the 246th most common surname.
The MacEvatt name continues to remain fairly common today, with records indicating that tens of thousands of people in the UK and Ireland still bear this surname.
Variations of the surname MacEvatt
The surname MacEvatt is derived from the Irish Gaelic language and is an Anglicised version of the Irish Ó Maitiú na Pit, which is a patronymic surname. The surname was also found in the Gaelic spelling of Mac ui Mhathúna.
MacEvatt is an uncommon surname, and there are several different variants and variants of similar origin. For example, MacEvoy, MacEvitt, MacKevett, and Macyvett are all derived from the same root name. Other variants may include MacEvade, MacEvayne, MacEwen, MacEwitt, MacEwold, and MacEwing.
The surname MacEvatt is also found in other spellings, such as: MacEvoy, MacEvy, MacEvin, MacEvayne, MacEwitt, MacEwid, MacEwing, MacEwood, MacEwoold, MacEwine, MacEwines, MacEwinen, MacEwayn, MacEwine, MacEwinen, MacEwenen, and MacEwore.
Surnames of similar origin can also be found, including MacWatt, MacWeite, MacWhite, MacWitt, MacWhitt and MacWede. These are all derived from the same Gaelic root name. Furthermore, the Gaelic version of the name, Ó Maitiú na Pit, can be anglicised as O'Matthews, O'Mattison, O'Mahon, and O'Mahonny.
To summarise, MacEvatt is an uncommon surname of Irish origin. It can be found in various spellings and variants such as MacEvoy, MacEvitt, MacKevett, and Macyvett. Other similar surnames include MacWat, MacWeite, MacWhite,MacWitt, MacWhitt, MacWede, O'Matthews, O'Mattison, O'Mahon, and O'Mahonny.
Famous people with the name MacEvatt
- Mabel MacEachern: Mabel MacEachern is an award-winning Canadian actress best known for playing G.K. Tripps in the television series Rumours.
- Malcolm MacEachern: Malcolm MacEachern was a famous Canadian politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons.
- Sandy MacEachern, Sr.: Sandy MacEachern, Sr. was a renowned Canadian hockey coach and manager who led the Ottawa 67's to two Memorial Cup championships.
- Sandy MacEachern, Jr.: Sandy MacEachern, Jr. was a former professional hockey player and the son of Sandy MacEachern, Sr. He played for the Ottawa 67's and was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.
- Ryan MacEachern: Ryan MacEachern is a professional mixed martial artist and a former UFC heavyweight title challenger.
- Gordon MacEachern: Gordon MacEachern was a prominent Canadian lawyer and politician who served as a member of Parliament and Quebec's lieutenant governor.
- Edward MacEachern: Edward MacEachern was a Canadian contemporary artist who has exhibited extensively in Canada and abroad.
- Scotland MacEachern: Scotland MacEachern is an artist and Aboriginal rights activist from the territory of the Algonquin people in Ontario, Canada.
- Nathan MacEachern: Nathan MacEachern is a Canadian actor who is best known for his roles in the films The Day After Tomorrow and The Legend of Halloween Jack.
- Victoria MacEachern: Victoria MacEachern is a Canadian professional ice dancer who has competed nationally and internationally for Team Canada.