MCCOY
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Coy, Mccoy
McCoy is a Scottish, Irish and Manx surname that originated in the Gaelic-speaking regions of the British Isles. The name derives from the Old Gaelic Mac Aodha, literally meaning “son of Aodh”. The personal name Aodh is translated as “fire” or “fiery”, a reference to both a natural element and an ancient Celtic pagan deity.
The McCoy family can trace its roots back to the late 11th century. The earliest documented spelling is that of Cucail Mac Aedha, dated 1098 in the Dictionary of Manx Names. The surname generally denotes descent from an ancestor called Aodh, and it is commonly associated with individuals who are descendants of that name.
Historically, the McCoys migrated to Ireland as gallowglasses, serving as mercenary soldiers. Their initial home territories included the Isle of Man and the southern islands of Scotland such as Islay. In Ireland the name is primarily found in County Armagh and County Monaghan, with smaller clusters scattered in County Limerick and County Cork.
Over time the surname has developed numerous variants. At least fifteen forms are recognised, including: McCoy, Mckay, McKoy, McKey, McKee, McCay, McKie, and even McGee, although the latter is disputed by some scholars.
Significant recorded events involving the name include the marriage of Michael McCoy to Anne Booth at St. George's Chapel, Hyde Park, Westminster, on 19 December 1742, and the christening of Charles McCoy on 13 April 1766 at St. Leonard's in Shoreditch, London.
Prominent individuals bearing the surname are documented in the Dictionary of National Biography. Rev. Edward Mc Coy (1839–1872) was a noted Gaelic writer, while Sir Frederick Mac Coy (1823–1899) was a Dublin-born naturist renowned for his work in Australia. The question of who, if anyone, represented the “Real McCoy” remains unproven.
In contemporary usage, the name remains a marker of Gaelic heritage and is typically borne by those with ancestral links to the ancient Irish and Scottish clans. Its continued presence in the British Isles reflects both the historical movements of peoples and the persistence of Gaelic cultural identity.
Typical given names associated with the McCoy surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Ann
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Joan
- Kathleen
- Lesley
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
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 McCoy in...
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There are approximately 4,406 people named McCoy in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,130th most common surname in Britain. Around 68 in a million people in Britain are named McCoy.
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 McCoy
- Sylvester McCoy - Scottish actor
- Simon McCoy - Newsreader
- Tony McCoy - Northern Irish jockey
- Maimie McCoy - Actress
- Carl McCoy - Singer
- Marvin McCoy - Football player
- Ray McCoy - Northern Irish football player
- Glen McCoy - Writer
- Gerry McCoy - Football player
- Matthew Edmond McCoy - Pitcairn Island politician (1868 to 1929)
- James Russell McCoy - Pitcairn Island politician (1845 to 1924)
- J. J. McCoy - Irish rugby union player
- Tim McCoy - Football player (1921 to 2005)
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.