Surname McCoish - Meaning and Origin

McCoish: What does the surname McCoish mean?

The last name McCoish is a Scottish surname thought to originate from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Thoise. The root of the surname is the ancient name Thoise, which comes from the Gaelic word tuitse meaning "peaceful". This suggests that the original bearers of the McCoish surname were likely of a peaceful and diplomatic nature.

The McCoish surname first appears in records as far back as the 13th century, when the McCoish family is documented as having descended from an ancient Clan Chief known as Chief Tuiseach. This particular McCoish line became a powerful presence in central Scotland, where much of the family were later dispersed to surrounding areas.

These days, people with the McCoish surname may be most tightly associated with the town of Islay, which is located off the southwestern coast of Scotland. Here, many of the last name's earliest bearers were found.

In general, the McCoish surname is a proud reminder of Scotland’s ancient MacThoise clan. The name is likely to be fondly remembered by many, as it represents a peaceful and proud Highland heritage.

McCoish: Where does the name McCoish come from?

The last name McCoish, is a surprisingly rare surname even today, despite having been in existence since at least the 17th century, with records of it in Scotland and Irish during this time.

Most of the remaining McCoish families can be found in parts of the United Kingdom, predominantly northern Ireland and Scotland. The majority of the McCoish families who still carry the name are located around Derry, Belfast, Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Antrim.

The McCoish surname has also spread to other parts of the world, primarily to North America and Australia. In the United States, the majority of McCoish families are now found in the state of Pennsylvania, particularly in Allegheny and Philadelphia counties. The other states, such as New York, Wisconsin and California also have a scattering of families bearing the surname.

In Australia, the McCoish family name is now well established, with most of their descendants now living in the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

The last name McCoish remains relatively uncommon around the world, though not so rare that it can't be found in other places around the globe, primarily in the countries mentioned above.

Variations of the surname McCoish

The surname McCoish is thought to have multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. One of the most common variations of this surname is McCosh, and it is believed to be derived from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man.

Other variations include McChoise, MacCosh, McKeush, MacKeush, McCose, MacCosk, McCask, McCausland, McCauswyk, and McCray. Additionally, the surname McCoish is thought to be a sept of the ancient Clan MacDonald.

In Scotland the McCoish surname is most commonly spelled MacCosh in the southwestern and western portions, and McCauch in the northern regions of the Highlands as well as parts of the Isle of Skye. In Northern Ireland this surname is most commonly spelled McKeush.

Overall the surnames McCoish and the many of its variants have been found to be one of the most abundant surnames in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, since as far back as the 16th and 17th centuries.

Famous people with the name McCoish

• Tony McCoish: Scottish footballer who played for Glasgow Celtic in the 1960s.
• Morgan McCoish: Singer/songwriter who released the single “All for One” which reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart.
• Owen McCoish: Scottish actor who played the role of Davie Tapp in the movie “Rob Roy”.
• Scott McCoish: Scottish athlete who represented his country on the world stage in hurdles and long jump.
• Shannon McCoish: Irish Paralympic athlete who won a silver medal in the 2008 Summer Paralympics.
• Sean McCoish: Scottish actor who appeared in films such as “Braveheart” and “The Borrowers”.
• Jodie McCoish: Canadian actress who was part of the main cast for the television series “The Dresden Underground”.
• Jack McCoish: English actor who appeared in the movies “The Catcher Was a Spy” and “The Silent Storm”.
• Amy McCoish: English author who wrote the Gothic horror novel “The Estate”.
• Deirdre McCoish: Northern Irish-Canadian artist who has exhibited her work globally.

Other surnames

McCoin