Surname McVoy - Meaning and Origin
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McVoy: What does the surname McVoy mean?
The surname McVoy is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Bhuadhaigh. The prefix "Mac" means "son of," and "Bhuadhaigh" is derived from "buadhach," meaning "victorious." Therefore, the surname McVoy could generally be interpreted to mean "son of the victorious." This name may have originally been given to a person or family known for their success or prowess, particularly in battle. The spelling of Irish surnames often changed over time, and variations of McVoy include McBhoy, McAvoy, MacAvoy, and others. Like many surnames with the "Mac" prefix, McVoy signifies familial relationships and descent, highlighting the importance of family ties in Irish culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMcVoy: Where does the name McVoy come from?
The surname McVoy is of Scottish and Irish origin, with the “Mc” prefix denoting “son of.” It is derived from the personal name "Fheidhlimidh" which is Anglicized as "Feidhlim" or "Phelim". Different branches of the family used variations of the name, such as "MacPhelim", "MacVeagh", "MacVeigh", "McVey" and "McVoy". The name might also have originated from the Gaelic patronymic name, Mac Bhaideach, meaning son of Bhaideach, a personal name meaning 'tame'. The name first appeared in Connacht, where the family held a family seat from ancient times.
Today, the surname McVoy can be found in several countries, commonly in English-speaking nations such as the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. In the US, the name is particularly common in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois. In the United Kingdom, it is most prevalent in regions like Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland. It's worth noting that due to emigration and natural changes in language, the name can often be found under different spellings.
Variations of the surname McVoy
The surname McVoy is of Scottish and Irish origin and is believed to be a variant of the surname "MacBhaididh" in Gaelic, meaning "son of David." Over the centuries, and particularly through migration, the surname has been subject to various spellings and variants. While McVoy is the most common form, alternative spellings include McAvoy, MacAvoy, MacEvoy, MacGavoy, MacKevoy, McGavoy, McEvoy, and McKevey.
There are also slight variations like McAvay, McAvy, MacCavoy, Mckvoy, and even McCove. In many cases, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" (meaning "son of") can be dropped, leading to variants such as Avoy or Evoy.
As families emigrated, particularly to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, the spelling of the surname often simplified to fit the phonetics of the new language, which has further increased the variants of the surname. These variations often depended on the interpretation and spelling of immigration officials.
It's also important to note that many Irish and Scottish surnames have regional variants, so the exact spelling could correlate to specific areas within these countries.
Famous people with the name McVoy
- Jaime McVoy — An American actress who has most notably appeared in horror films such as It Follows and Viral. She also took part in the virtual reality short film series, Hypatia.
- Dermot McVoy — An Irish composer who has written songs for musicals, operas, and film.
- Kit McVoy — An American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose musical style blends soul, jazz, and indie-pop.
- Bonnie McVoy — An American actress who is most well-known for her roles on the television series True Blood and Charmed.
- Adam McVoy — An American actor who has appeared in a number of television series such as Saturday Night Live, West Wing, and Grey’s Anatomy.
- Bridget McVoy — An American actress and producer who has acted in films such as Jurassic World and Iron Man 2.
- Emma McVoy — An Australian actress and voice-over artist who is best known for her roles in television shows such as Wentworth and Home and Away.
- Rosa McVoy — A British fashion model who has been featured in campaigns for luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.
- Jessica McVoy — An American actress who has appeared in television shows such as Gossip Girl and The Carrie Diaries.
- Peter McVoy — An American actor who is known for his recurring roles in shows such as Friends and Curb Your Enthusiasm.