Surname McIntosh - Meaning and Origin
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McIntosh: What does the surname McIntosh mean?
The last name McIntosh is of Scottish origin and translates as "son of the chief" or "son of the thane." This comes from the Gaelic name "Mac an Tòisich," wherein "Mac" means son and "an Tòisich" refers to the leader or chief. The word "Tòiseach" was used in the early Middle Ages to designate a high-ranking office within a clan, similar to a chieftain or a thane. Therefore, McIntosh can signify someone who descends from a line of clan leaders or chiefs. The McIntosh clan was powerful in the Scottish Highlands from the 14th to the 17th centuries. The name is widespread in Scotland and Northern Ireland and among people of Scots-Irish descent worldwide, with variations including Mackintosh and M‘Intosh.
Order DNA origin analysisMcIntosh: Where does the name McIntosh come from?
The last name McIntosh is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac an Tòisich", which means "son of the chief, leader, or thane". The McIntosh clan, originally found in the Highlands of Scotland, have their roots in the ancient kingdom of Dalriada.
The McIntosh clan played a significant part in the history of Scotland. Though many McIntoshes still reside in Scotland, historical circumstances such as the Highland Clearances, where Highland farmers were evicted from their homes, led to widespread immigration. This ended up spreading the McIntosh name across the globe, most notably to North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Today, the name McIntosh is common in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and where it originated, in Scotland. The most notable concentration in the United States is in the northeastern states and Dade County, Florida. Often, the name is shortened to just "Mac" or "Mc". The McIntosh name has made a mark in history and continues to be notable today, particularly in areas associated with Scottish diaspora.
Variations of the surname McIntosh
The surname McIntosh primarily originates from Scotland and its spelling variants are McIntush, Mackintosh, M'Intosh and MacIntosh. Some McIntosh families also anglicized their name to MacTosh. The surname McIntosh is a Scottish clan name derived from Gaelic, originally spelled as "Mac an Tòisich," meaning "son of the chief or leader." It has also been linked to the Gaelic name "MacThomas."
The reason for different versions of the surname is due to the translation from the Gaelic script to the English script. Many Scottish surnames were taken down in records based on their phonetic sound, rather than a standard spelling. Therefore, one person's name was often recorded under several different spellings during a single lifetime.
Furthermore, the migration of people over time led to adaptations in the translation and pronunciation, leading to even more variations. For example, some families who emigrated to North America anglicized their surnames to blend in more easily with their new society.
The Macintosh Apple also gets its name from this surname, although slightly differently spelt, it is still pronounced the same way.
Famous people with the name McIntosh
- Sienna McIntosh: American actress
- Brisbane 'Breezy' McIntosh: Canadian reality television star
- Emma McIntosh: Australian actress
- Charlie McIntosh: British Olympic rower
- Nicole McIntosh: Canadian professional snowboarder
- James McIntosh Patrick: Scottish painter
- Ken McIntosh: British politician
- David McIntosh: British actor and professional bodybuilder
- Gordon McIntosh: Canadian-American geologist
- Sir Clinton Edward Macintosh: British diplomat
- Cheryl McIntosh: Australian botanist
- Gordon Fraser McIntosh: Canadian glaciologist
- G.S. McIntosh: American entomologist
- Andrew McIntosh: British professor
- Steve Edman McIntosh: American philosopher
- Katherine McIntosh: American author
- Jack McIntosh: South African Olympic hockey gold medalist
- Ron McIntosh: Canadian politician
- Michael G. McIntosh: American economist
- Mark McIntosh: American Anglican theologian