Surname McQuaig - Meaning and Origin
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McQuaig: What does the surname McQuaig mean?
The surname McQuaig is of Scottish origin; it is a derivative of the Gaelic Mac Cuag, which means 'son of Cuag.' The name Cuag itself has many interpretations including 'dearth' or 'anxious.' This surname is most widespread in North America and the British Isles, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is somewhat rare, implying ancestral ties to a small number of original bearers. Like many surnames, the specific meaning of McQuaig can be difficult to find due to the numerous transformations and variations it has undergone over centuries. Surnames often point towards certain familial or professional characteristics, such as a trait, occupation, or location associated with an ancestor, so it’s likely that the McQuaig family line was once known for a connection to the implied characteristics of 'dearth' or anxiety.
Order DNA origin analysisMcQuaig: Where does the name McQuaig come from?
The surname McQuaig is of Scottish origin, specifically deriving from a branch of the Clan MacQuarrie, a Scottish clan residing in the Hebrides in Scotland. The 'Mc' or 'Mac' part of the surname means 'son of' in Gaelic, so McQuaig translates to 'son of Quaig.' Notably, variations of the surname can include McQuaid, McQuarrie, or McQuarie.
Today, the surname McQuaig is found primarily in English-speaking countries due to migration patterns. These countries include the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It is particularly common in countries with a significant population of Scottish descendants such as Canada. Nonetheless, the distribution of the surname McQuaig remains relatively scarce compared to other Scottish surnames; it is not one of the most common surnames. It's worth mentioning that the population bearing the name McQuaig could significantly increase if all variations of the surname are considered.
Variations of the surname McQuaig
The surname McQuaig is a variant of the Scottish origin name MacQuaig, which is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Thaidhg" meaning "son of Tadhg". Tadhg is an old Irish name meaning "poet" or "philosopher". The prefix “Mac” in Gaelic names indicates "son of". This surname has numerous spellings and variations due to the phonetic transcription from Gaelic to English, as well as geographical relocation and changes over time.
The main variants and spellings for McQuaig include MacQuaig, MacQuigg, McQuigg, MacCuag, McCuag, MacGuigg, McGugg, MacKewig, McKewig, McKuigg, McQuage, and MacQuage.
Moreover, similar Gaelic surnames such as McTague, McTeague, and McTigue derived from the same root "Mac Thaidhg" may also be viewed as variants of McQuaig. However, they actually represent separate family lineages that originally shared the common personal name Thaidhg. It's also important to note that the name may have different spellings in different countries, due to different languages and their unique alphabets and sounds.
Famous people with the name McQuaig
- Ty McQuaig: Engineer, CEO, and Entrepreneur
- Sean McQuaig: Actor and Screenwriter
- Dan McQuaig: Professional Snowboarder
- Troy McQuaig: Standup Comedian and Television Writer
- Maggie McQuaig: World Record-holding Professional Longboarder
- Mac McQuaig: Musician and Artist
- Braden McQuaig: Professional CrossFit Athlete
- Caitlyn McQuaig: Television Actress and Model
- Donny McQuaig: Grammy-winning Singer-Songwriter
- Gretchen McQuaig: Award-winning Film Director