Surname McDaid - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McDaid: What does the surname McDaid mean?
The last name McDaid has an Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic Ó Doibhde meaning “descendent of Dubhdith”. The personal name Dubhdith is a diminutive form of dubh, which means “dark” or “black”. It is likely that the original bearer of this surname had dark hair or eyes, a physical attribute that would have made them stand out from other individuals. It could also have been derived from a nickname that described someone of a serious or thoughtful demeanor.
McDaid is most commonly found in the province of Ulster in the Northern part of Ireland. In some cases, it is a variant spelling of the surname McDade. It is also found in Scotland and parts of the United States, particularly in areas with large concentrations of Irish immigrants.
McDaids can trace their ancestry back to an important dynasty that dominated medieval Ireland, the Ua Dubhda dynasty. This powerful family was prominent in the acres of Derry in northwest Ulster. They enjoyed wealth and power and where known as skilled warriors and poets.
Not much is known about the current bearers of the surname McDaid, but the name is a part of Irish history and is a reminder of the strength and resilience of its people.
Order DNA origin analysisMcDaid: Where does the name McDaid come from?
The surname McDaid is an Irish surname, originating from County Donegal in the province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. Today, the surname is most commonly found in the counties of Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo, particularly across rural Irelands north-west counties.
McDaid is the Anglicised version of the Irish surname MacDaig. This name originates from a Gaelic Clan know as the ‘Mac Daig’ of the Cenél Conaill. This name translates from Irish into English as ‘son of Daig’, which is in turn derived from the Gaelic personal name ‘Daig’ which means ‘burning’ or ‘fiery’.
McDaids are believed to have originally descended from Conall Gulban, who was the great-grandson of the famous Irish High King, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Conall Gulban established the kingdom of Tír Chonaill, in County Donegal, in the 5th century. From here on, the Banagh sept of the Cenél Conaill held much of the area and were among those who gave rise to the McDaid name.
Today, the McDaid name can be found throughout Ireland, particularly in the north-west of the country. However, the name has also spread further overseas, particularly to countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, having been brought by Irish emigrants in search of a new life.
Variations of the surname McDaid
The surname McDaid is a name of Irish origin, and is a variant of the name McDade. Common spellings and variants include MacDade, MacDaid, McDiad, MacDaid, MacDiad, Dade, and McDade. It is a derived from the Gaelic/Irish surname Mac Daibhéid, which means ‘Son of David’.
The name is found mainly, but not exclusively, in Ireland, and is most common in Ulster. It is also found in Scotland, England, and amongst Irish descendants in the United States and Canada.
McDade is also the name of a number of unrelated Irish families, but they do not share the same ancestry. Some variations of the name McDade include MacDade, McDiad, MacDaid, MacDiad, and Dade.
Despite being an Irish name, some of the families bearing the McDade name also have Scottish and Scottish-Irish roots, and their name reflects this. Some of the possible clan affiliations for this surname are the Irish MacDades of Connaught, the McLoughlin MacDades of Antrim, and the Scottish McDades of Ayrshire, who also trace their roots to the Irish MacDades of Fermanagh.
In addition, there are some families of this name who have soft-Scottish origins. These families adopted the McDade name upon settling in Scotland and Ireland. Other surnames related to McDaid include Mac Day, Mac Davy, Mac Dad, Davy, Davie, Davies, Mac Diarid, Mac D'Arcy, and MacDermod.
Famous people with the name McDaid
- Noel McDaid: an Irish author and journalist
- Michael McDaid: a former Northern Irish footballer
- Alison McDaid: a British model
- Rob McDaid: a British singer and songwriter
- Steven McDaid: an Irish-American soccer player
- Maureen McDaid: an American actress
- Shaun McDaid: a Northern Irish DJ
- Paddy McDaid: an Irish Gaelic football player
- Drew McDaid: a former British ice hockey player
- Ryan McDaid: an Australian comedian
- Jimmy McDaid: an Irish Gaelic football player
- John McDaid: a British actor and playwright
- Sinead McDaid: an Irish professional basketball player