Surname McKoy - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKoy: What does the surname McKoy mean?
The last name McKoy is of Scottish and Irish origins. It is an anglicized form of the old Gaelic name "Mac Aodha," which translates as "son of fire." This name belonged to an ancient pagan God. The McKoy or McCoy families originated in the Scottish Isles before some members spread to Ireland and later worldwide through migration. The name "Mac Aodha" took on several different forms depending on the region it was found in due to the different pronunciations in various dialects of Gaelic. McKoy or McCoy is one such form. The name not only denotes family lineage, but in its original form, it may have indicated individuals bearing characteristics such as spiritedness, passion, or perhaps advice and wisdom, which were attributes associated with the god "Aodh". Over time, the specific meanings within the culture may have become less relevant or understood, but the sense of belonging to a wider familial or clan group has endured.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKoy: Where does the name McKoy come from?
The last name McKoy is of Scottish origin and is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac Aodha," meaning "son of Aodh" or "son of Hugh." The surname originated in the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages. Aodh was a popular personal name in early Scotland, derived from the old Celtic god of fire and sun.
The name has various spelling forms, including McCoy, Mackay, McKay, and McKoy. The spelling variations are due to the translation from Gaelic to English, which was often phonetically conducted.
Today, the surname McKoy is most common in the United States, particularly in North Carolina. It is also relatively common in England, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. A smaller number of people with the surname live in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations, possibly due to the historical influence of Scottish settlers and traders in the region.
In general, this surname is spread across English-speaking countries because of historical migration patterns, especially during times of political unrest in Scotland, which caused many Scottish people to leave their homeland.
Variations of the surname McKoy
The surname McKoy, originally of Irish origin, represents a branch of the Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning "son of fire." This surname has numerous variations and alternative spellings due to phonetic interpretations and regional influences.
Some of the most common variations and spellings include McCoy, MacCoy, McKay, MacKee, McKeigh, Mackie, McKie, MacKay, Mckay, Magee, and Mackey. All these spellings were used interchangeably in various English-speaking countries, including Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States.
In other instances, the surname might have been changed completely due to cultural adaptation resulting in surnames like Mack, Macke, Keogh, and Hughes all of which are anglicized versions of the original Gaelic name.
As for the surname derived variants, you can find several like Maccoy, Mackoy, Mccoig, Mccoag, Mcoy, Mckoey with regional disparities. Some other, less common variations might also include McCoey, McCay, McKey, MacKae, and McKea.
It should be mentioned that although these variants do exist, each specific spelling might carry its own unique history, development and geographical distribution despite sharing a common root.
Famous people with the name McKoy
- Taye Diggs: American actor, singer, and producer
- Morgan J. McKoy: American actor and director
- Ryan McKoy: Musician from The Voice
- Wayne McKoy: Former defensive back in the NFL
- Cleo McKoy: American singer known for heart-warming music
- Mark McKoy: Canadian hurdler and Olympic gold medal winner
- Chrystal McKoy: NFL tight end
- Jody McKoy: Canadian freestyle skiier
- Cleo Lane McKoy: gospel singer and songwriter
- Lawrence McKoy: American actor known for playing Grandpa Zeb in the 1998 film Pleasantville