MCGUFF
Also recorded as Mc Guff, Mcguff
McGuff
McGuff is a Scottish and Irish surname of Celtic origin. The surname McGuff is derived from the Gaelic name "Mag Dubh" which means "son of the dark one." It is believed to have originated in Scotland and later spread to Ireland.
Origins and Meaning
The McGuff surname is closely linked to the MacDuff clan, an ancient Scottish clan known for its leadership and connections to Scottish royalty. The name "MacDuff" means "son of Dubh" in Gaelic, further reinforcing the connection to darkness or the mysterious.
Distribution and Frequency
The surname McGuff is relatively rare, with the majority of individuals bearing the name residing in Scotland and Ireland. Over time, some members of the McGuff family may have migrated to other English-speaking countries, including the United States and Canada.
Notable People
One notable bearer of the surname McGuff is fictional character "Roger O. Thornhill," played by Cary Grant in the classic film "North by Northwest" (1959), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In the film, the character adopts the alias "George Kaplan," a name initially intended to be a decoy for enemy spies.
There are approximately 91 people named McGuff in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named McGuff.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Darren
- Gary
- Graham
- Ian
- Richard
Female
- Janet
- Katrina
- Sonja
- Wendy