MCGHIE
Recorded variant spellings include Mc Ghie, Mcghie
McGhie is a surname of Scottish origin with deep Gaelic roots.
The name is derived from the Gaelic patronymic MacAoidh, which means “son of Aodh.” In the ancient language, Aodh translates to “fire” or “fiery,” indicating that the original bearer of the name might have been associated with a passionate or vigorous character.
Other sources attribute to the surname additional Gaelic roots. One suggests a derivation from MacGaidh, meaning “son of the stranger,” while another links it to Mac Gadhra, meaning “son of Gadhra” where Gadhra itself translates as “dog of God.” All these interpretations agree that the name is of Gaelic origin and that it originated in the British Isles, particularly Scotland.
Throughout history the surname has appeared in numerous orthographic forms that reflect regional pronunciation and the loss of the initial Mac or Mc prefix. Notable variants include McCaughey, McGahey, McGahy, McGee, McGehey, McGeagh, McGhie, MacGee, Magee, MacGhee, MacGie, McGhee, Ghee, Gee, and Gie.
Archival evidence shows that the earliest recorded spelling was that of James M'Gachy on 25 May 1709, a christening witness at Carmoney, County Antrim, during the reign of Queen Anne. Earlier mentions include a record of the clan in County Tyrone in 1685 under MacCahee. Subsequent documentation from the 18th and 19th centuries lists individuals such as Elizabeth McGahy (1711), John Caghy (1791), Jennet McCaughey (1816), Lettitia McGaghey (1829), and the christening of Mary McGeagh, daughter of James McGeagh, at Draperstown, Ulster, on 1 November 1866.
The surname was traditionally concentrated in Scotland, with the highest frequencies recorded in East Lothian, Orkney and historically in Dumfriesshire from the 12th century onward. As migration from Scotland increased in the 19th and 20th centuries, the name spread to England, Australia and the United States, where it remains identifiable among descendants of Scottish emigrants.
Because of the large number of spelling variants that have appeared in parish registers, civil documents and census records, genealogical research into the McGhie line often requires searching under several different surnames. Despite these orthographic differences, the scholarly consensus is that all variants originate from the same Gaelic patronymic root.
Typical given names associated with the McGhie surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Richard
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Caroline
- Catherine
- Claire
- Daniela
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Frances
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Shena
- Yvonne
Similar and related surnames
- McGhee
- McGee
- Macie
- Magee
- Macey
- Macis
- Mcgie
- Maack
- Maag
- Maak
- Maake
- Mac
- Maca
- Macau
- Macc
- Macca
- Macco
- Maccue
- Maci
- Maciey
- Mack
- Mackae
- Macke
- Mackee
- Mackei
- Macki
- Mackie
- Mackiee
- Macko
- Maco
- Macque
- Macue
- Maeck
- Maek
- Mag
- Maga
- Magg
- Magga
- Magge
- Maggee
- Maggi
- Maggie
- Maggio
- Maggo
- Maghee
- Maghie
- Magho
- Maghoo
- Maghu
- Mago
- Magoo
- Magu
- Mague
- Maguie
- Maick
- Maig
- Maiga
- Maigh
- Maik
- Maika
- Maike
- Mak
- Maka
- Makai
- Makau
- Make
- Makee
- Maki
- Makia
- Makie
- Makio
- Makk
- Makkai
- Makke
- Makki
- Mako
- Maku
- Makua
- Mauck
- Maug
- Maugh
- Maugha
- Mauk
- Mayko
- Mcc
- Mccaa
- Mccae
- Mccaie
- Mccoo
- Mccooe
- Mccue
- Mcgoe
- Mcgue
- Mckae
- Mckaie
- Mckea
- Mckee
- Mckie
- Mckue
- Mcque
- Mcquie
- Mcue
- Meag
- Meagh
- Meak
- Meake
- Meca
- Mecca
- Meck
- Mecke
- Meco
- Mecue
- Meeck
- Meek
- Meeke
- Meekie
- Mega
- Megg
- Meggi
- Meggie
- Megh
- Meghie
- Mego
- Meigh
- Meik
- Meikee
- Meikie
- Mek
- Meka
- Meke
- Meki
- Mekie
- Mekkaoui
- Mekki
- Meko
- Mghee
- Miac
- Mic
- Mica
- Micco
- Mick
- Micka
- Micke
- Mickie
- Micko
- Mico
- Micu
- Miga
- Migg
- Migge
- Migo
- Migou
- Migue
- Mik
- Mika
- Mike
- Miki
- Miko
- Miku
- Mkee
- Moag
- Moak
- Moake
- Moc
- Moca
- Mock
- Mocka
- Mocke
- Mocko
- Moco
- Moeke
- Mog
- Moga
- Mogg
- Mogge
- Moggie
- Mogue
- Moig
- Mok
- Moka
- Moke
- Moki
- Moko
- Moku
- Mooc
- Moock
- Moog
- Mook
- Mooke
- Mouck
- Moug
- Mough
- Mougo
- Mouk
- Mouque
- Moyk
- Muc
- Muca
- Muck
- Mucka
- Mucke
- Muckie
- Mucko
- Mueck
- Muecke
- Muego
- Muga
- Mugg
- Mugga
- Mugge
- Mugh
- Mugo
- Muica
- Muigai
- Muk
- Muka
- Mukai
- Muke
- Mukka
- Muoka
- Mycka
- Mycko
- Mycoe
- Myko
- Mykoo
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname McGhie in...
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There are approximately 1,785 people named McGhie in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,628th most common surname in Britain. Around 27 in a million people in Britain are named McGhie.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named McGhie
- Billy McGhie - Football player
- Charles McGhie - Member of the Queensland Legislative Council (1839 to 1917)
- Joe McGhie - Football player (1884 to 1976)
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.