Surname MacGuffie - Meaning and Origin
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MacGuffie: What does the surname MacGuffie mean?
The last name MacGuffie is a Scottish surname. It is anglicized from the Gaelic Mac Gobhfaidh, which means “son of the smith”. The Gaelic “Gobhfaidh” comes from the word “gobha”, which means smith, so that MacGuffie is essentially an occupational surname.
The MacGuffie family were most likely a sept spiritual descendants of Padraig Gobhfaidh, a smith from 12th-century Scotland. The ancient Gaelic form of the MacGuffie surname has been found in the area of Dunagannon, in Ulster, Ireland, since 1573. In the 19th Century, the MacGuffie surname was found throughout Scotland, especially in the western highlands and the island of Skye.
The MacGuffie family motto, "Fide et Fortitudine," reflects their strong connection to the ancient craft of metalworking and skill as fierce warriors and loyal citizens. As a family, the MacGuffies still honor their ancestor’s strength and wisdom centuries later. To this day, the MacGuffie name is associated with conviction and dedication.
Regardless of how person carrying this name chooses to interpret it, the surname MacGuffie is a reminder of a powerful and determined family that has been carving an impressive place in Scottish history for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGuffie: Where does the name MacGuffie come from?
The last name MacGuffie is of Scottish origin. It primarily appears in the north-eastern area of Scotland, as well as some parts of Northern Ireland. The name can be found in records dating back to the 12th century when some MacGuffies were awarded lands in Aberdeenshire near Aberdeen in Scotland. It is recorded in the 16th and 17th centuries that the MacGuffies were living in Aberdeenshire, and also in Falkirk and Lanarkshire.
Today, the MacGuffie name is most commonly found in the Aberdeen, Dundee, and Stirling areas of Scotland. Additionally, many people of Scottish descent who have moved to North America, Australia, and New Zealand have adopted the name MacGuffie as their own, continuing to share the family's proud heritage.
The MacGuffie family is known for being hardworking and honest. This is likely why the name is still in use today, as generations of MacGuffies have continued to uphold the family name and tradition with the utmost respect and dignity.
Variations of the surname MacGuffie
MacGuffie is an Anglicized spelling of the Irish surname Mac Fhiodhbhuidhe, which means ‘son of the fair-haired one’. It may also be spelled MacGuffie, MacGuffin, MacGuffy and MacGuffey, and variants of the surname include MacGuffin, MacFee, MacGuvphy and MacGeuphy.
The Irish surname Mac Fhiodhbhuidhe derives from a Gaelic personal name, Fiodhbhuidhe, which means ‘wooden-hearted’ or ‘fair-haired one’. The Gaelic name was formed by combining the prefix ‘fiodh’, which means ‘wood’ or ‘tree’, with the suffix ‘buidhe’, which means ‘yelllow’ or ‘fair’.
The MacGuffie family has numerous branches and is found primarily in County Donegal in Ulster province, where its members are descended from the early 10th-century Irish families known as the Clann Fhiodhbhuidhe, which means ‘descendants of Fhiodhbhuidhe’.
First-generation American immigrants with the surname MacGuffie included James MacGuffie from County Donegal, Ireland, who moved to Philadelphia in the 1800s, and Andrew MacGuffie who arrived in New York in the early 1900s.
The MacGuffie surname also appears in Scotland, mainly Edinburgh and Inverness, and in England, primarily in London and Birmingham. It is also found in recent times in Australia and Canada, and among Irish emigrants in the United States and other countries.
Famous people with the name MacGuffie
- Aly MacGuffie : A professional soccer player who represented Scotland at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
- Alan MacGuffie: An American actor, director, and writer best known for his appearances in films such as The Hitcher and War Party.
- Doug MacGuffie: An American cartoonist who created the comic strip Annie's Puppies.
- Ewan MacGuffie: A talented Scottish writer and illustrator whose works have been featured in the New Yorker, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.
- Edna MacGuffie: An American silent film actress best known for her roles in films such as Ladies of the Mob and Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Kim MacGuffie: A veteran stuntwoman and animal wrangler who has worked on feature films like Legends of the Fall, Gladiator, and Ghost Ship.
- Drew MacGuffie: An American artist and printmaker whose work has been featured in solo and group shows throughout the United States.
- Ryan MacGuffie: A Scottish author of historical fiction who won the Michael E. DeBakey Medical Humanities Award in 2017 for his novel Edge of Anarchy.