MCCAY
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Cay, Mccay
McCay
McCay is a surname of Gaelic Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "MacAoidh," meaning "son of Aodh." The name likely originated from the personal name Aodh, meaning "fire" or "fiery." The McCay surname is found primarily in the British Isles, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Origins
The McCay surname can be traced back to ancient Celtic clans in Scotland and Ireland. The name is a variant of the more common surnames McKay and MacKay, which are associated with the Clan MacKay in the Scottish Highlands.
Distribution and Variants
The McCay surname is not as prevalent as some other Gaelic surnames, but it is still found in various regions of the United Kingdom, with concentrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England. Variants of the name include MacCay, MacQuey, and McKay.
Notable Individuals
-
Bill McCay (1937-2014): American science fiction author known for his works in the "Time of the Great Freeze" series.
-
Hayden McCay (b. 1990): British actor who appeared in several popular television dramas.
Legacy
The McCay surname carries with it a sense of heritage and tradition, reflecting the rich history of the Celtic peoples in the British Isles. The name continues to be passed down through generations, connecting modern individuals to their ancient roots.
Typical given names associated with the McCay surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Kevin
- Martin
- Patrick
- Paul
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Ann
- Elizabeth
- Frances
- Grace
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
- MacKay
- Macca
- Macay
- Mackaay
- Mccaa
- Maccoy
- Mackae
- Mackey
- Mackoy
- Macky
- Macoy
- Magahy
- Magay
- Magaya
- Maggay
- Maghey
- Makay
- Makaya
- Makey
- Makiya
- Makky
- Maky
- Mauguy
- Maukey
- Mcay
- Mcc
- Mccaan
- Mccabb
- Mccabe
- Mccade
- Mccae
- Mccage
- Mccagh
- Mccaghey
- Mccaghy
- Mccahey
- Mccaie
- Mccaig
- Mccaighy
- Mccail
- Mccain
- Mccale
- Mccall
- Mccam
- Mccamm
- Mccan
- Mccane
- Mccann
- Mccape
- Mccarr
- Mccary
- Mccaul
- Mccave
- Mccaw
- Mccoey
- Mccooey
- Mccoy
- Mcgay
- Mcgoey
- Mcguy
- Mckae
- Mckay
- Mckaye
- Mckea
- Mckeay
- Mckey
- Mckoy
- Mcky
- Mckye
- Mcoy
- Mcquay
- Mecoy
- Meekey
- Megahy
- Meggy
- Mekey
- Mekkawy
- Mgaya
- Mickay
- Mickey
- Migoya
- Mkay
- Moggy
- Moigay
- Mokaya
- Mucahy
- Muckey
- Mccayna
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McCay in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 360 people named McCay in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named McCay.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McCay
- James Whiteside McCay - Australian general and politician (1864 to 1930)
- Ryan McCay - Scottish football player
- Shirley McCay - Irish field hockey player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.