Surname McPeak - Meaning and Origin
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McPeak: What does the surname McPeak mean?
The surname McPeak is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Péice," which means "son of Pike." The word "Pike" could either be a reference to a person who used a pike, a type of long spear, as a weapon, or could have referred to someone tall and thin, much like the shape of a pike fish. Like many surnames, McPeak was likely initially a nickname or a descriptor of a person's characteristics or occupation, which then became a family name passed down through generations. The exact meaning could vary based on geographic location and historical context. This last name is quite rare today but it can be primarily found in Northern Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisMcPeak: Where does the name McPeak come from?
The surname McPeak is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Old Gaelic "Mac Peácach", which translates to "son of Peácach". The name "Peácach" itself is derived from "peacock", signifying an individual with vainglorious or extravagant characteristics. The McPeak surname emerged during the Middle Ages in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
Today, the McPeak surname is found in many English-speaking countries, but it remains most common in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Outside of Ireland, due to historical migration and diaspora, it is also fairly common in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, its highest concentration remains in its place of origin, namely Northern Ireland's County Tyrone.
Variations of the surname McPeak
The surname McPeak is of Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Péice," which means "son of Peake." Some of the common variations and spellings of this surname could include McPeake, McPeek, McPake, McPike, and MacPeek.
One key element in translating Gaelic names into English was that spellings were largely phonetic as no standardized spelling rules existed. As a result, a single person's name was often recorded under various spellings during a single lifetime. Over time, these different spellings formed numerous branches and versions of the original surname. More than anything else, these variants represent the idiosyncrasies of scribes or dialect differences.
Also, as Irish families were displaced during the English invasion and subsequent Plantation of Ulster, many moved to Scotland where McPake and MacPake are commonly seen.
The Americanization of names also led to other spellings. For instance, the initial pronunciation of "McPeak" may come across as "McPake" or "McPeake" in certain dialects, leading to these variations. The removal of the "Mc" or "Mac" prefix is also common, leading to simply "Peak" or "Peake."
Some surnames of the same origin, due to phonetic translations, could include McPeak’s like-sounding surnames, for instance, Peek, Peak or Peck.
Famous people with the name McPeak
- General Ronald R. Fogleman, U.S. Air Force (Retired): General Fogleman is the former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and served in this position from 1994 to 1997.
- General Merrill A. McPeak, U.S. Air Force (Retired): General McPeak is the former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and served in this position from 1990 to 1994.
- Jerome McPeak, Chef: Chef Jerome McPeak is a chef-owner of his well-known restaurant, The Primary Restaurant Group.
- Steve McPeak, Singer: Steve McPeak is a singer-songwriter and lead vocalist for the band, LadyLack.
- Elizabeth McPeak, Actress: Actress Elizabeth McPeak has featured in films such as The Return of the King and TV series including The Vampire Diaries.
- D.P. McPeak, Judge: D.P. McPeak is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Nevada.
- Kristy McPeak, Softball Player: Kristy McPeak was an All-American softball player at the University of Arizona, played in the National Pro FastPitch division, and was part of the 2007 U.S. National Softball Team.
- Bruce McPeak, Football Player: Bruce McPeak was a former professional American football player and he played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1983.
- Storm McPeak, Artist: Storm McPeak is a visual artist, DJ, and VJ who has had his work showcased in numerous galleries and museums all over the world.
- Bridgett McPeak, Chef: Bridgett McPeak is a chef and restaurateur known for her cooking-show, The Cooking Channel, which airs on ComCast TV.