Surname McKawes - Meaning and Origin
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McKawes: What does the surname McKawes mean?
The last name McKawes is an Anglicised version of the Irish and Scottish surname Mac Gathaigh, which originated from the Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil, meaning “son of the battle chieftain”. The Gaelic prefix "Mac" translates to "son of", and “cathmhaoil” translates to “battle chieftain”.
This surname was likely given to a man in authority and of noble lineage, likely from one of Celtic dynasties with a reputation for bravery in battle. The McKawes surname is most commonly found in Ireland and Scotland, but can also be found in the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In many variations, those who played a prominent role in the history and life of their communities could pass down the surname to their descendants. As the McKawes clan filmed with family loyalties and bonds, this name has been passed down from generation to generation for centuries.
The McKawes family has a long and rich legacy of the honour, courage, and loyalty associated with the Clan at large. As such, those who bear the McKawes name proudly wear it as a badge of honour, and often strive to continue the important legacy associated with this name.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKawes: Where does the name McKawes come from?
The surname McKawes is not particularly common today, as it is believed to be derived from a line of Scottish clans which have since died out. Currently, descendants of McKawes can be found primarily in America and Canada, with some present in Australia.
In Scotland, the earliest known references to the name McKawes trace back to the 12th century, where there are mentions of a family of McKawes in The Annals of Ulster. The name then appears again in the 14th century in a Scottish charter from 1319, in which an individual by the name of William McKwes was recorded.
However, the McKawes line was dispersed in the 16th century due to political unrest. Some members of the clan migrated around the British Isles while others immigrated to the United States and Canada, where the name McKawes is found in modern records.
The family currently is most densely populated in America and Canada. The last name McKawes is recorded in the United States census records from as far back as 1880. In addition, records from Ontario, Canada, also document the last name, indicating it is a name with some significance in the area.
Overall, the McKawes line is not common today, but it still exists with scattered family members in Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Variations of the surname McKawes
The surname McKawes is an interesting one, as there are several spellings and variants that have formed over time. McKawes can be spelled several ways, such as MacKawes, Mackawes, and Mackaways. Due to the small changes between these versions of the surname, the origin is likely the same for all of them.
It is believed that the surname McKawes is of Irish origins. This is attributed to the fact that the most common variants of the name, MacKawes and Mackaway, are derived from the Irish surnames Mac Abhaidh and MacAoidh. These two names are composites of Native Gaelic words, and the literal translation of both is “son of the hawk”.
Variants of the name McKawes also exist outside of Ireland, particularly in Scotland. In Scotland, the surnameMacKawes and variations of it are found in the Lowlands of Scotland, in the regions around Edinburgh. There are also variations of the surname on the Isle of Man, where the name Mackaway is quite common.
Finally, one of the more interesting variants of McKawes is found in Scotland in the form of MacCauish. This variation is likely derived from the Scots variant of MacKawes, and can be found primarily in the Western Isles of Scotland.
In conclusion, McKawes is an interesting surname that has many variants and spellings, with variants found both in Ireland and other parts of the British Isles. These variants are likely derived from the Irish surnames Mac Abhaidh and MacAoidh, which literally translate to “son of the hawk.”
Famous people with the name McKawes
- Anna McKeown (Also known as Anna McKawes, an Australianagram Concept Artist and VFX artist known for her work in Aquaman).
- Kenji McKeown (An American photographer, filmmaker, and director who won a Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival).
- Robert McKawes (also known as Robert McKawes the Elder, a Dutch-born 18th-century borough councilor in Danvers, Massachusetts).
- William McKawes, Sr. (also known as William McKawes the Elder, a prominent physician, naturalist, and scientific author who settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts during the 18th century).
- Robert McKawes the Younger (a painter, engraver, and mineralogist noted for his landscapes and marine views of Boston Harbor).
- William McKawes, Jr. (also known as William McKawes the Younger, an accomplished scientist in the field of natural history and zoology).
- Stephen McKawes (an American-born movie actor and director who was active in the 1920s and 1930s).
- Bradley McKawes (a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Vancouver Canucks).
- Donald McKawes (an American political consultant who has served as the communications director for several major campaigns, including the 2016 presidential bid by Bernie Sanders).
- Lorraine McKawes (an American novelist, poet, and playwright best known for her novel, You Now Belong to Me).