MCDADE
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Dade, Mc-Dade, Mcdade
The surname McDade is of Gaelic origin, deriving from the patronymic element Mac meaning “son of” and the personal name Daibhéid, the Irish form of David. The name David itself is a translation of the Hebrew Dawid, which conveys the meaning “beloved” or “friend.” Consequently, McDade can be interpreted as “son of the beloved one” or “descendant of David.”
In the British Isles, the name is principally associated with the northern counties of Ireland, especially Donegal, Derry, Antrim and Tyrone. In Scotland, it appears largely in the city of Glasgow and the surrounding region. In medieval Ireland the surname was frequently anglicised as MacDaibheid, and the family was also represented in spellings such as MacDaid, MadDade, McDevitt and McDavitt. Many records attest the spelling McDade from the eighteenth century onwards: for example, Elizabeth McDeid married Barnaby Hargan on 12 November 1750 in Drumachose, Londonderry, during the reign of King George III. Subsequent christenings, such as William John McDade on 24 July 1833 at Dromore, County Down, and Mary Ann McDade on 13 September 1840 at Ballymoney, Antrim, confirm the continued use of the name.
The earliest documented ancestor in the Gaelic tradition is David O’Doherty, a chief of the Cinel Conaill who met his death in 1208. He is credited with founding a line that grew numerously in the Inishowen peninsula. The surname, therefore, carries a dual heritage: a Celtic patronymic clause linked to a regional clan, and a biblical association through the name David.
Like many Irish surnames, McDade was carried abroad during the nineteenth‑century Great Famine and the subsequent mass emigration. Large numbers arrive in the United States, Canada and Australia, and the name has since been encountered in those countries as well as within the wider Irish diaspora. In the modern era the surname continues to be borne by a diverse group of individuals in various professions around the world.
The surname’s spellings have evolved according to regional dialects and phonetic interpretations. While the core form McDade remains widespread, variations such as McDaid, McDevitt, Davison and Davidson occur, particularly among those who have anglicised the name in English‑speaking contexts. These variations, however, generally trace back to the same original Gaelic patronymic and do not necessarily denote distinct families.
Typical given names associated with the McDade surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Brian
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Robert
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Alison
- Anne
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Jennifer
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sharon
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McDade in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname McDade are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Orange Club.
There are approximately 2,922 people named McDade in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,052nd most common surname in Britain. Around 45 in a million people in Britain are named McDade.
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
