Surname McKnew - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKnew: What does the surname McKnew mean?
The surname McKnew is of Scottish origin, derived from the personal name "Mac Eanraig" which translates to "son of Henry." The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" commonly denotes "son of" in many Gaelic surnames. Henry, the personal name in question, has roots in the Old German name Heinrich, meaning "home ruler." Over time, this personal name evolved into many variations including McKnew. It's important to note that surnames often represented familial relationships or geographical locations, so tracing their exact origins and meanings can be complex. The surname appears to have been more prevalent in America, notably within Maryland. However, the exact meaning and origin of McKnew might be less precise due to migration, Anglicisation, and other factors affecting historical records. Nevertheless, the wide use of "Mc" or "Mac" as a prefix in Scottish and Irish names suggests a Gaelic connection.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKnew: Where does the name McKnew come from?
The surname McKnew is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eoghain" which means "son of Eoghain". Throughout history, many spelling variations of this name occurred, and McKnew is one of these variations. The Scottish Clan from which the name McKnew emerged was originally located in the Western Isles, but after the Norman Conquest of 1066, many members migrated to various regions of Scotland and Ireland. Today, the McKnew surname isn't very common, but can occasionally be found in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia where Scottish and Irish diaspora populations exist. Due to historical migration patterns, the last name might be more prevalent in regions that had significant Irish and Scottish immigration, such as the East Coast of the United States. However, it must be emphasized that McKnew is not one of the more common Scottish or Irish surnames in these regions.
Variations of the surname McKnew
The surname McKnew is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Cnaimhin, translating to "son of the little bonnet." This surname is quite unique and not very common, thus it does not have many known variations.
In Scotland, surnames often have "Mac" or "Mc" prefixes, meaning "son of," which then leads to a wide variety of surnames with different spellings. However, the exact spelling always depends on phonetic translation, regional dialects, and other factors.
Similar surnames of Scottish origin may include McNeil, McKeown, McEwen, or McKinney. Variations could hypothetically feature altered spellings such as McKnue, MacKnew, McKneu, McKnoo, or McKnow. These should be taken as potential variants and not definitive alternate spellings since they are not commonly found in records. A comprehensive search for variant spellings of this surname would require a detailed genealogical study or historical analysis.
Surnames of the same origin would be those that start with "Mc" or "Mac" followed by a personal identifier or descriptive term as this is the pattern followed by McKnew. For example, McGregor (son of Gregor), McDonald (son of Donald), or MacIntyre (son of the carpenter).
Famous people with the name McKnew
- Harry McKnew: a French American executive and former chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
- Samuel McKnew: an American politician who represented Maryland's 8th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1907 to 1911.
- W. H. McKnew Jr.: an American lawyer and politician from Maryland who served in the Maryland state senate from 1936 to 1942.
- John McKnew: a former college football coach and player, playing with the Iowa State Cyclones.
- C. D. McKnew: a former professional baseball player who also coached and managed the St. Louis Browns of Major League Baseball from 1901 to 1902.
- Ruth McKnew: an American writer and poet, known for her novels, including "Dreaming In Dark Times" and "Country Voices".
- David McKnew: a British actor, best known for his role as Thomas Becket in the 1961 film, Becket.
- Rick McKnew: an American rock musician, best known as the guitarist for the Atlanta rhythm & blues band, The Georgia Satellites.
- Daniel McKnew: an American film producer, actor, and director, best known for producing such movies as Stargate and Save the Last Dance.
- Stacey McKnew: a Canadian theatre actor, director, and teacher, best known for her work in the stage shows Cats, Les Misérables, and Jesus Christ Superstar.