Surname MacRoy - Meaning and Origin
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MacRoy: What does the surname MacRoy mean?
The surname MacRoy originates from the Gaelic culture and is derived from two parts. "Mac" is a common prefix in Gaelic and Scottish names and means "son of". "Roy" comes from the Gaelic word "ruadh" or "rua", translating to "red". So, the full colloquial translation of MacRoy would be "son of the red-haired one" or "son of the red king". Historically, it referred to someone who was the son of a powerful or influential person with red hair. The surname is most commonly found in Ireland and Scotland, as well as in communities with significant Scottish or Irish diaspora. It's important to note that this is a general interpretation and the true meaning may vary based on family history and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisMacRoy: Where does the name MacRoy come from?
The surname MacRoy is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Ruaidh, which means "son of Ruadh" or "son of the red one". The name indicates a person who is either red-haired or has a ruddy complexion. There are variances in the spelling of this name including McRoy, McCroy, and others, as name scribes often wrote a name as it sounded.
The surname was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), an historic county in south-western Scotland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Despite the Scottish origin, due to migration and the passage of time, bearers of the surname MacRoy can now be found in many places around the world, notably in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, it is not particularly common in any specific geographic area today. As with many surnames, the individual and family decisions to migrate have dispersed bearers of this surname globally.
Variations of the surname MacRoy
The surname MacRoy is of Scottish origin, with "Mac" standing for "son of" and "Roy" denoting a nickname meaning "red" or "Rufus". This name can have different spellings and variants due to phonetic translations, geographic displacement and the passage of time. Variants and alternative spellings include McRoy, MacRaith, McRae, MacRay, MacRea, Mag Raith, and MacRie.
In broader terms, these derivations can be grouped into "Mac" or "Mc" prefixes standing for "son of" and various interpretations of "Roy", such as Raith, Rae, Rie, Ray, and Roy itself. The MacRae family, especially, is a historically prominent Scottish clan with widespread descendants.
The surname can also have different spelling variations due to Anglicisation from the original Gaelic; for instance, 'Mac Ruaidh' could have been translated to MacRoy or McRoy.
In Ireland, there might be some families with the surname MacRoy, but the spelling variations are typically different due to the variance in Gaelic language between Scotland and Ireland.
The surname has also been Americanized in various forms upon the families' migration to English-speaking countries. MacRoy is just one version of an originally rich and complex Gaelic name.
Famous people with the name MacRoy
- Isabella MacRoy: Actress who starred in the television series “The Roys”.
- Jennifer MacRoy: Emmy-winning cinematographer.
- Ryan MacRoy: British singer-songwriter.
- William MacRoy: Former Mayor of Turlock, California.
- Jody MacRoy: Professional tennis player.
- John MacRoy: Scottish footballer who played for Southport and Wigan Athletic.
- Peter MacRoy: Former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
- Paul MacRoy: Canadian musician, singer and songwriter.
- Jesse MacRoy: Drummer and producer from Denver, Colorado.
- Jessica MacRoy: Professional makeup artist for films, television, and music videos.
- Piers MacRoy: Academy Award-winning film editor.
- Patty MacRoy: Award-winning country music artist.
- Christopher MacRoy: Hollywood stuntman and stunt coordinator.
- Kirk MacRoy: Actor and voice-over artist.
- Steven MacRoy: Former National Football League wide receiver.
- Edwin MacRoy: Soccer player who represented Scotland at the 1992 UEFA European Championship.
- Alex MacRoy: Television producer and director.
- Grant MacRoy: Award-winning British multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer.
- Stuart MacRoy: Former U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and NASA astronaut.
- Tyrone MacRoy: Member of the rap group Goodtime Crime.