Surname McQuaid - Meaning and Origin
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McQuaid: What does the surname McQuaid mean?
The last name McQuaid is a Irish/Scottish surname that derives from the Gaelic Mac Uaid, which means “son of Uaid”. The Uaid name was a personal name which was often given to the eldest son of a family, hence the Mc prefix. The McQuaid name is thought to have been brought to Scotland and Ireland during the Norman invasions which began in the 11th Century.
The McQuaid surname is actually derived from a smaller sub-surname, or “sept”, called O’ Quaid, which roughly means “descendant of Quaid”. This sept then had a prefix of Mac affixed to turn it into the McQuaid we know today.
In modern times, this surname is still relatively popular. According to data from Northern Ireland, the McQuaid surname is the thirty-fourth most common name in the."celtic nation". In terms of England and Wales, which includes Northern Ireland under its census, the McQuaid surname is one of the 900 most common surnames, being the 637th most common name in the two countries combined.
The McQuaid surname also origins to countries all over the world, although it is most prevalent in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and there are many persons with this surname in America, down under in Australia, and even in countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands. In other words, the McQuaid surname is firmly associated with countries in the British Isles, even today, having served almost 1,000 years of loyal service to their nations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuaid: Where does the name McQuaid come from?
The last name McQuaid is most commonly found in Ireland, where it is found throughout the country. The origins of the name are unclear, but some theorize that it is of Gaelic origin, with the prefix "Mac" meaning "son of" and the suffix "Cuaid" meaning "help or aid".
McQuaids can be found in the United States and Canada, particularly in large cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Montreal. The presence of Irish immigrants in the 19th century has resulted in McQuaids being established in various parts of the continent. The surname can also be found in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and other parts of the world, although in much smaller numbers.
McQuaid is a common surname in Ireland, particularly in County Monaghan where it is the third most common surname. Other counties where McQuaid is ranked among the top ten are: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Tipperary and Waterford.
In spite of all the places around the world where the last name McQuaid can be found, the highest concentrations of individuals who bare the name are still to be found in Ireland.
Variations of the surname McQuaid
McQuaid is a Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic given name Mac Uaid. Variants of this name include M'Quaid, MacQuade, MacQuaid, MacQwade, MacQuoid, MacCuaed, M'Cochad, and MacCuish.
Mac Uaid (or MacUaid) is anglicized from its Gaelic-language form of MacUaide, meaning "son of Uaide". Uaide is derived from the Irish-language word for "deer". McQuaid is found mainly in Ireland, although there are some bearers of the name in Scotland.
The English version of the surname is spelled "McQuade". There are also several versions of the spelling found in Northern Ireland and Ireland, including MacQuade, MacCquaid, MacQuaid, MacQuoid, MacQwade, and MacCuaed.
The surnames M'Quaid and M'Cochad are variations of the original version, while MacCuish is a variant found primarily in Scotland.
McQuaid is also related to the Irish surname MacCuaid, which is found more frequently in Northern Ireland. The spelling MacCuish is a variant of this surname.
In some cases, the McQuaid and MacCuaid surnames derive from the original Mac Uaid, while in others, the two came from a separate ancestor.
Overall, the McQuaid surname has a range of spellings and related surnames. Variants of this surname are found in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, often tracing their origins back to the Gaelic Mac Uaid.
Famous people with the name McQuaid
- Mark McQuaid: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Lydia McQuaid: folk-rock singer-songwriter
- Wesley McQuaid: American film director and actor
- David McQuaid: Former professional ice hockey defenseman
- Owen McQuaid: Irish Gaelic football player
- Dorothy McQuaid: Scottish nurse in Sudan
- Lord Williams McQuaid: British colonial administrator
- Stephen McQuaid: Professional windsurfer
- Amanda McQuaid: BBC broadcaster
- Andy McQuaid: Former hockey player