Surname McFadyen - Meaning and Origin

McFadyen: What does the surname McFadyen mean?

The last name McFadyen is of Scottish origin, and is a variation of the MacPhideon surname. The name McFadyen is derived from the Gaelic MacPhaidin, which translates to ‘son of little Patrick’. The root of the name comes from the Gaelic diminutive Pheadair, which is the equivalent of the English name Patrick.

The McFadyen name was first found in Argyllshire (part of the region now known as Argyll and Bute), an area of western Scotland renowned for its clan culture and turbulent history. It is thought that the McFadyen clan, whose origins are unknown, may have split off from a larger clan sometime in the early centuries of Scotland’s history.

Today, many McFadyen descendants are scattered across the globe due to emigration in the past few centuries. The McFadyen name is still found in Scotland, particularly in the Argyll and Bute area. In addition, descendants of the McFadyen family may be found in England, Ireland, America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In summary, the McFadyen surname has its roots in Scotland, and originated from the Gaelic MacPhaidin. Descended from a larger clan, the McFadyen name can be found to this day in many parts of the world, due to emigration over the centuries.

McFadyen: Where does the name McFadyen come from?

The surname McFadyen is a Scottish-Gaelic surname, most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, as well as in parts of Northern England and Ireland. It is particularly common in the islands of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, where historically as much as 90% of the population can lay claim to it. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Phaidin", meaning "son of little Patrick".

Today, the surname McFadyen is primarily found in Scotland and the UK. It can also be found in countries around the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada, as many Scots and Scots-Gaelic emigrated to these countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In the US, McFadyen is not a common surname, although individual families may have emigrated there in the past. As of the most recent census data, there were approximately 2,700 people with the surname McFadyen living in the US. It is most common in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, and California.

McFadyen is an old and proud surname, with its roots stretching back many hundreds of years to the Scotland of old. It is clear to see that the name still has a considerable presence in Scotland and the UK today, and there are likely to be many individuals who can lay claim to it.

Variations of the surname McFadyen

McFadyen is a surname of Scottish origin which is also found in Ireland. There are various spellings and surnames which are derived from this name. Variations of the McFadyen surname include:

McFadien - this spelling is found mainly in the United States where many of the original McFadyen immigrants moved to.

MacFadyen – this spelling is more commonly found in Scotland and Ireland.

McFadon - this is another alternative spelling which is found mainly in the United States.

Fadden - this is an anglicised form of the McFadyen surname which is found mainly in Ireland.

McFadin - this spelling is also mainly found in the United States.

McCaffaden - this spelling is also found mainly in the United States.

McFadden - this is also an alternative spelling mainly found in the United States.

MacFadon - this is another anglicised spelling mainly found in Scotland and Ireland.

McVadyen - this is a variation mainly found in Scotland.

MacVadyen - this is another variation mainly found in Scotland.

McVaddin - this is a less common variant.

McFadin - this is the original spelling of the surname.

McFayden - this is another variation of the original McFadyen surname.

McFaddan - this is also another variation.

McFadden or McFadden-McFadyen – this is a combination of the McFadden and McFadyen surnames.

MacFadyean - this is a less common variant mainly found in Ireland.

Famous people with the name McFadyen

• Gilmour McFadyen: British poet and playwright
• Alex McFadyen: British Olympic swimmer and former world champion
• Lachlan McFadyen: Australian footballer
• Duncan McFadyen: Scottish Member of Parliament
• Margaret McFadyen: American film producer
• James McFadyen: British actor
• Joe McFadyen: American professional wrestler
• Alastair McFadyen: Scottish bassist and composer
• Finlay McFadyen: Scottish football player
• Ernie McFadyen: Canadian hockey player
• Emma McFadyen: English actress
• Max McFadyen: American saxophonist
• Angus McFadyen: Scottish actor
• David McFadyen: Canadian professional wrestler
• Judith McFadyen: American criminal justice researcher and professor
• Christopher McFadyen: American professor of civil engineering
• Adrian McFadyen: Canadian public servant
• Heather McFadyen: Canadian poet and fantasy author
• William McFadyen: British Major-General
• John McFadyen: Scottish theologian and church historian

Other surnames

McFadyanMcFadyn