Surname MacPadden - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacPadden: What does the surname MacPadden mean?
The last name MacPadden is derived from the Scottish Gaelic patronymic Mac Phàidín, which translates to “son of Páidín”.
The personal name Páidín would be derived from the diminutive forms of Pádraig, which is the Gaelic form of Patrick, as well as of the family name Mac Piarais, which means "son of little Peter".
In Gaelic speaking parts of Scotland such as the Highlands and the western islands, the MacPadden family was very common, and the name may be found in many variant forms.
The MacPadden name was often anglicized to McPadden, mostly for the convenience of record keepers, and as such can be found with both versions of spelling in Scotland and Ireland.
The MacPadden family name was also associated with those of the Irish clan Mac Mahon, which can be derived from another form of Pádraig. The successors of Mac Mahon's organization is now based in County Louth, Ireland.
MacPadden is a unique name in its own right, and has been around in different forms since at least the time of the ancient Celts. It symbolizes the historical connection between Scotland and Ireland, and has endured for centuries as a recognisable and proud family name.
Order DNA origin analysisMacPadden: Where does the name MacPadden come from?
The last name MacPadden is most commonly found in the country of Ireland. According to data from the global genealogy website Forebears, MacPadden is the 1,841st most common surname in the country with approximately 2,786 people.
The name first appears in records around the 16th century in the remote and rural province of Leinster in southeastern Ireland. In Leinster, the last name is particularly concentrated in the counties of Westmeath, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, and Carlow.
Outside of Ireland, MacPadden is a rare surname. It is not found in the list of the top 10,000 most common last names in the United States. It is likely that the name was brought to the U.S. by Irish immigrants during the 19th century but there are no known records of such.
Overall, the last name MacPadden is most strongly connected with Ireland and the place of its origin. Although rare, if one takes a closer look, the name can still be found in the country's records.
Variations of the surname MacPadden
The surname MacPadden is generally known as a variant of the surnames Mac Phadden, Mac Pheadon, Mac Pheaden, Mac Fadden, Mac Padden, Mac Fatton, and Mac Phaddan.
In Ireland, the surname MacPadden is forename from the Gaelic "Mac Phadaín," which translates literally into English as "son of the little lad." It is derived from the Gaelic "Phadaín," which is a nickname of the name Padraic.
In Scots Gaelic, MacPadden is a variant of the surname Mac Fionnagain, and is spelled Mackphedan, Mac Pheadon, Ma Pheaden, Mac Fadden, Mac Faddan, Mac Fettan, and Mac Phaddan.
In Scotland, MacPadden is another Anglicized spelling of the name MacPhadden. That surname comes from the Gaelic personal name Mac an Phaidín, which means ‘son of the little Pat.’ It is derived from an Old Irish personal name, mac Páidín, which comes from the diminutive of Páidín, which was a pet form of Patrick.
Alex MacPadden, an early settler in North America, is also noted as the earliest known bearer of this surname in the United States.
Today, the name MacPadden is found in Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada, and America, chiefly among the descendants of Irish and Scottish settlers. This shows that the surname MacPadden has been passed down and used for generations. The names Mac Pheadon, Mac Pheaden, Mac Fadden, Mac Padden, Mac Fatton, and Mac Phaddan have also been used. As the spelling of the surname has been Anglicized, different families may also refer to their surname as Mac Phadden, Mac Feadon, Mac Fadden, and Mac Fodden.
Famous people with the name MacPadden
- Maureen MacPadden, actress
- Jenna MacPadden, actress and voice actress
- John MacPadden, movie producer
- Donna MacPadden, dancer
- Elizabeth MacPadden, mathematician
- Ann MacPadden, film production designer
- William MacPadden, writer
- Nick MacPadden, author
- Christine MacPadden, zoologist
- Dr. Jean MacPadden, researcher and professor