Surname MacPaden - Meaning and Origin

MacPaden: What does the surname MacPaden mean?

The last name MacPaden is of Scottish origin and is most commonly found in the Perth and Kinross area of central Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words ‘mac’ meaning “son of” and ‘Pòid’ meaning ‘little one’ or ‘son of the little one’. This suggests that originally the family were of small stature or one of the many scattered locals whose descendants all came to be known as ‘MacPaden’.

Symbolic meanings of the name are that the bearer is likely to be a hard-working, honest and reliable individual who takes a practical approach and is resilient in times of difficulty. This is borne out by the traditional occupations of those who carry the name, which tends to be artisan-based craftsmen, manual labour or farming and is reflective of their humble origins.

The name appears to have been popularised in Scotland over the last 300 years or so, most likely due to a combination of migration from other parts of the country, as well as economic, social and political factors which made the Perth and Kinross area increasingly attractive as a place to settle.

The name MacPaden has been associated with Scotland since its inception, and it’s sure to be a popular part of the local identity for years to come.

MacPaden: Where does the name MacPaden come from?

The last name MacPaden is of Irish and Scottish origins, and is most commonly found today in the United States and Canada. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic Mac Pheadáin, meaning "son of Padán", who was likely a personal name. The surname was first found in the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland.

In 1890, according to the US Census Bureau, MacPaden was the 8,850th most common surname in the United States, and has been consistently present in the country ever since. Many MacPadens have also migrated to Canada, and in 2016 Statistics Canada ranked MacPaden as the 2,426th most common surname in the country.

In the US, the MacPaden surname is most commonly found in Florida and New York. Other US states where MacPadens can be found include Massachusetts, California, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

MacPaden is also prevalent in Scotland and Ireland, where it originated. The most frequent locations in Scotland are Aberdeenshire, originally known as Banffshire, followed by Ayrshire and Midlothian. In Ireland, MacPaden is found most often in County Longford, where there is a place nicknamed "MacPadenstown".

In recent years, the MacPaden family has spread across much of the world. Though exact figures are not available, there are MacPadens in countries such as Iceland, Australia, the Netherlands, and France.

Variations of the surname MacPaden

The MacPaden surname is a variant of the patronymic name MacPeadan, a surname of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic prefix ‘mac’ which means ‘son of’ and the personal name Paden or Padáin. This name would have originally been used to denote an individual from a family of Padáin’s descendants.

The MacPaden name has many variations including the following: MacPadden, MacPaden, MacPadden, McPadden, McKpaden, MacPeden, McPeaden, McKeaden, MacLedan, MacPedden, MacKedden, MacLeaden, Macaddan, MacFadden, MacFadon, and MacCaddan.

Other variants of the name MacPaden include the surname variants McKaddan, MacKeadon, McKeadon, and MacVadden. There are also some alternative versions of the name MacPaden, like MacFidden, MacPuden, MacPoiden, MacTodden, and MacVaden. It is also possible that the surname may have been anglicized at some point and has therefore been seen in other spellings or forms such as McFadden, McVadden, and MacPhaden.

The surname has also spread to other countries, where it has taken on various forms. In Scotland, the name is spelled as McKpadden or MacKpaiden. In the United States, it is often spelled as MacP Ibrahim. Other surnames related to the MacPaden family include McCloud, McBriden, McBryan, and McEachern.

Famous people with the name MacPaden

• Dave MacPaden: American DJ, known for his work on Sirius XM Radio.
• Stan MacPaden: American musician, composer and producer who released a live singer/songwriter album in 2016.
• Sharon MacPaden: British singer/songwriter who released her debut album in 2020.
• Bob MacPaden: American actor known for his role as Father O’Neil in the comedy-drama film Falling Down.
• Claire MacPaden: American actress known for her roles in the television series The O.C., Lie to Me and Deception.
• Eliza MacPaden: British actress and model, best known for her roles in the films X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past.
• Patrick MacPaden: Irish actor and voice-over artist, most notable for his roles in Beauty and the Beast and The Hobbit trilogy.
• Philip MacPaden: Canadian actor, known for his lead role as Stephen in the film Transition and his appearance as a guest star on the television series Smallville.
• Robert MacPaden: American actor who starred in movies such as Charlie's Angels, The Doors and The Outsiders.
• Richard MacPaden: British actor and producer, best known for his role in the television series Eastenders.

Other surnames

MacPadden