Surname McCadams - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McCadams: What does the surname McCadams mean?
The surname McCadams is of Scottish and Irish origin and is derived from the personal name Adam, which means 'red earth' or 'man.' The prefix 'Mc' in Scots Gaelic translates to 'son of,' therefore, McCadams could be interpreted as 'Son of Adam.' Variations of the name include MacAdam, McAdam, and MacAdams. The MacAdam/McAdam families in Scotland and Ireland were often skilled builders and engineers, and the surname is also connected to the creation of 'Macadam,' a type of road construction pioneered by Scottish engineer John Loudon McAdam. Despite its historical and occupational connotations, the meaning of the name doesn't necessarily carry any particular significance today.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCadams: Where does the name McCadams come from?
The surname McCadams is of Irish origin. It is a variant of McAdam, which is derived from the patronymic form of the given name Adam, "Mac Adam", meaning "son of Adam". The "c" in McCadams represents the Irish version of "son", which is “mac”. The surname first appeared in the early 18th century in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Today, McCadams is common in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is also quite prevalent in Northern Ireland, reflecting its historic Gaelic roots there. The surname has numerous variants including MacAdam, MacAdams, McAdams, among others. One of the notable people with the surname McCadams is the Canadian actress Rachel McAdams. Despite its noble lineage and widespread dispersal, the surname is not overly common, thereby lending it a unique status among Irish surnames.
Variations of the surname McCadams
The surname McCadams is Scottish in origin and could also be traced back to Ireland. Variants include MacAddam, MacAdam, McAdams, McAdam, MacAdams, and many others. Smaller differences in the spelling, such as the addition or removal of the "s" at the end (McAdam vs. McCadams) or usage of "Mac" over "Mc", are also common.
In some cases, the prefix "Mc"is dropped entirely, resulting in the surname Adams. A further variant is Adams itself, popular both in Scotland and Ireland.
Certain surnames can be linked to McCadams through similar patronymic Scottish and Irish naming conventions, like McAdamson, adding the "-son" suffix, meaning "son of Adam".
It's also important to note that the surname underwent changes when some families emigrated, particularly to North America, resulting in variations of the name that were influenced by phonetic spelling.
In many cases, surname variants could also surface due to clerical errors or changes in regional dialect over time. Thus, while the aforementioned names can be considered related to McCadams, the precise familial connection may not always be clear.
Famous people with the name McCadams
- Rachel McAdams: Canadian actress known for her roles in popular films such as Mean Girls, The Notebook, and Sherlock Holmes.
- Rose McGregor-Rundle: British artist and album artist.
- Daniel McCadams: British-born American attorney and former U.S. Air Force JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer.
- Debbie McCadams: Renowned nature photographer and conservationist.
- Cameron McCadams: Award-winning landscape photographer and outdoor adventurer.
- Chris McCadams: Veteran professional skateboarder.
- Megan McCadams: Australian singer and songwriter credited with classic hits such as ‘Tattooed on my heart’ and ‘Lightning Strikes.
- James McCadams: Award-winning American theatre and film actor and director.
- Park McCadams: American real estate developer and philanthropist.
- Sean McCadams: Former NASCAR racer.