Surname MacGhie - Meaning and Origin
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MacGhie: What does the surname MacGhie mean?
The last name MacGhie is a patronymic surname of Scottish origin. It is derived from the name MacGugy, and is believed to have originally been used as a nickname for someone with a hook-like nose. The name is generally found in the area now known as Galloway and Dumfries in Southwest Scotland.
The presence of MacGhie families in this part of Scotland can be traced to the late 13th century. At that time, the Barony of MacGugy was established by William, Lord of Nithsdale, when he granted the lands of Carron, Stakenock, and Kinvaith to a wealthy merchant by the name of Colin MacGugy. This high place in the upper tiers of the Scottish nobility likely led to the MacGhie name appearing in various records and documents.
The name is related to MacGugy families in Ireland as well. It is likely that both MacGhie and MacGugy were originally anglicized versions of the Irish-Gaelic Mac Aoidh, which is derived from the personal name Aedh, meaning "fire". Both names are found in several countries, suggesting that there was a fair amount of migration between Scotland, Ireland, and other areas.
Overall, MacGhie families can have a proud heritage. Their name can be traced back to ancient times in Scotland and to the respected nobility of the area. The origin of the name is also a unique story and speaks of the importance of understanding the connection between surnames and their original language and context.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGhie: Where does the name MacGhie come from?
The surname MacGhie is most commonly found today in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with its highest concentration being in Aberdeen City, Scotland. It is an ancient Gaelic surname believed to have derived from two words; "mac", which means son, and the personal name "Ghie", a pet form of the name "Gilbert".
MacGhie is a relatively rare and unusual surname today, and the origin of the name varies depending on the circumstances of its bearer’s arrival. In some cases, the name is thought to be of Norman origin while in the Borders region, it is believed to have descended from an ancient Irish clan known as the "Mac Goisdealbhache".
Today, many families of Scottish and Irish descent bear the MacGhie surname, particularly in the United Kingdom. It can also be found in Australia and the United States, although at much lower concentrations than in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Though now a rare name, the MacGhie surname is still sometimes seen in modern Scotland and is particularly common in and around the City of Aberdeen. Its frequency in Northern Ireland is also high, though not as high as in Scotland. With the relatively recent immigration of people of Scottish and Irish descent to the U.S., Australia, and other western nations, MacGhie is slowly becoming more widely seen around the world.
Variations of the surname MacGhie
The surname MacGhie is a Gaelic variant of the masculine given name McGhee. It is also known in Scotland as MacGhee, MacGhie, MacGe and Macgee.
In Ireland, the MacGhie surname is believed to be derived from the Irish patronymic name McGee, which is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning “son of Aodh”. This is the same root as the Scottish surname MacGhee.
In some cases, the name MacGhie was used to represent a Gaelic phrase meaning “son of the servant of Aodha”, as Aodha or Aodh was a popular Celtic god.
In Scotland, the surname MacGhie is seen as a variant spelling of MacGhee and is thought to have first appeared in the Southern Lowlands. The other variation of the surname MacGhie is MacGe.
The MacGhie surname has seen extensive emigration, mainly to North America and Australia. Some of the variations of the name that have been established in these countries include MacGe, McGee, MacGhee, McGhee, MacGhee and M'Gehee. All of these surnames are related, and their simplest form is still MacGhie.
Famous people with the name MacGhie
- Amy MacGhie: English opera singer
- Rebecca MacGhie: American television producer
- John MacGhie: former American football player
- Greg MacGhie: Canadian singer-songwriter
- Jean MacGhie: Scottish actress
- Keith MacGhie: American television interviewer
- Zoltan MacGhie: Hungarian justice and jurist
- Simon MacGhie: former British public servant
- Alastair MacGhie: Scottish architect
- Ryan MacGhie: former American baseball player