Surname MacTansey - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacTansey: What does the surname MacTansey mean?
The last name MacTansey is of Scottish descent, derived from the Gaelic Mac an t-Saoghail, which means “son of the traveler.” Over time, the name has been anglicized and various versions exist, such as MacTansey, MacTanse and MacTanzi.
For centuries, Scotland has been a diverse and vibrant nation and many families ventured from the mainland to distant islands such as Mull, Tiree, and Staffa to settle and establish new lives.
The MacTanseys are believed to be descended from one such family that hailed from Ireland and migrated to the Scottish Isles in the late 1700s. However, the exact origin of the family is unknown.
The family held to its adventurous roots and continued to explore, and in time, spread everywhere from the United States to Canada and especially to Australia.
Today, if you meet someone with the surname MacTansey they may be descended from an immigrant to Australia in the late 1800s, an immigrant who sought to make a new home and with them, brought with them a strong and unique identity – one that has proven to be resilient and be passed down through the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisMacTansey: Where does the name MacTansey come from?
The last name MacTansey is most commonly found today in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It originated as Mac an tSionnaigh (son of John) in County Monaghan, Ireland. This surname is derived from the Clan MacDonnell which can be traced to the 11th century. The main branch of the family comes from Donegal in north-west Ireland, however, there are also branches in Scotland, England and Wales with a similar name (McTansay).
In its Irish form, MacTansey is now primarily found in counties Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. Although the name is far less frequent than many other Gaelic surnames, MacTansey has been steadily rising in popularity in the last couple of decades.
The name is also relatively common in parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. Over the centuries, many members of the MacTansey family have emigrated to other countries from Scotland and Ireland and it can be found all over the world, although the name has not spread as widely as its close relation, Mac Donald.
The identity and shared ancestry of those with the MacTansey surname is a source of great pride for many people. It is fitting that the name has endured and carries the legacy of its Celtic roots in the modern world.
Variations of the surname MacTansey
The surname MacTansey is a variant of the traditional Irish Mac an tSaoi or Mac An TSí, which is derived from the Irish word “Saoi” meaning ‘wise one’. It is also sometimes spelled MacAntsí or MacAntsaoi, and is pronounced Mac-An-Tshee.
MacTansey is the anglicized version of the surname, which is also sometimes written as Others variants of the surname include MacTantsay, MacTansey, MacAntsay, MacAntsí, MacAntsaoi, MacAnTsí, MacAnTsay, MacAnTsiuil, MacAnteigh, MacAntague, MacAntáig, McTansay and MacAnTsay.
Some people with the surname MacTansey may also have other similar surname spellings, such as MacDansy, MacDansie, MacDenzie, MacKensie, MacKensey, MacKensi, MacKenzy, or MacKinsey.
The surname is most often found in the south of Ireland, and in some cases it was also adopted in America, Australia and other English speaking countries as an anglicized version of Mac an tSaoi.
The name MacTansey is also associated with various famous figures such as Irish playwright, poet, and author Eamonn MacTansey and singer Kilian MacTansey.
Famous people with the name MacTansey
- T.J. MacTavish: Retired professional ice hockey player
- Gordon MacTavish: Retired Canadian professional ice hockey player
- Brandon MacTavish: Professional baseball player
- Kaitlin MacTavish: Professional figure skater
- Avery MacTavish: Actor
- Sheila MacTavish: Artist
- Henry MacTavish- Professional soccer player
- Monty MacTavish: Professional golfer
- Campbell MacTavish: Professional race car driver
- Jamie MacTavish: Professional snowboarder
- Jack MacTavish: Award winning journalist
- Craig MacTavish: Retired NHL coach
- Ryan MacTavish: Professional lacrosse player
- Donald MacTavish: Professional mountain climber
- Callum MacTavish: Musician and composer
- Jackson MacTavish: Professional long-distance swimmer
- Jim MacTavish: Screenwriter
- Ella MacTavish: Climate change activist
- Sam MacTavish: Basketball player
- Mackenzie MacTavish: Actor and singer