Surname MacKee - Meaning and Origin
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MacKee: What does the surname MacKee mean?
The last name MacKee is of Scottish origin. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, which is a patronymic form of the given name Aodh, meaning “fire”. Alternatively, it may be of English origin as a variant of the name McKee, derived from the Northumbrian name Mac Cea.
Despite its varied origins, MacKee typically refers to the same surname. It appears in records from the 13th century when Sir Piers Mackie became Chamberlain of Scotland in 1282. Over the centuries, it has spread with many branches of the family settling in various regions of Scotland and abroad.
In Northern Ireland, it is widely found in County Antrim. While it is most common in its native Scotland, the MacKee name can also be found in other parts of the world. In the United States, the 2000 United States Census reported that 61,969 people had the surname MacKee, making it the most populous variation of the name within America.
Today, the MacKee surname signifies a proud heritage and strong sense of family values. It is still strongly held in many areas throughout Scotland and across the globe. The name is a unique way to tie back to our ancestors and celebrate their brave legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKee: Where does the name MacKee come from?
The last name MacKee is most commonly seen in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. In the United States, the surname MacKee is primarily concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Virginia. It is also common in the state of Georgia.
In the UK, the surname MacKee is concentrated in the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness-shire, and Aberdeenshire in Scotland, and Lancashire and Yorkshire in England. In Ireland, the surname MacKee is most concentrated in Donegal, followed by Mayo, and Belfast County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
The origin of the surname is believed to be Irish, however the clan MacKee is found in Scotland. It is believed that the clan was founded by Robert MacKee, a descendant of King Kenneth MacAlpin, who lived in Ayrshire. The surname MacKee is derived from the Gaelic personal name MacAoidh, which means son of fire.
Today, this surname is primarily associated with Scotland and Ireland, however it is widespread across other parts of the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The surname is most common amongst those of Scottish or Irish descent, but is also found amongst other ethnic backgrounds.
Variations of the surname MacKee
MacKee is a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for MacKee are Mackie, Mackey, Makey, Makie, McKey, M’Kee, MacAodha, and MacAoidh.
Mackie is derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, and it is the most common variant of MacKee. It was first present as Makky in Middle English records in the 13th century. In Scotland, the name Mackie is associated with the ancient Clan Mackie of Galloway.
Mackey is derived from the Gaelic version of the same name MacAodha. This variant of the name was first recorded in East Lothian in the earliest part of the 17th century. In the early 1800s, Mackey was the most common spelling for this surname.
Makey is derived from Mac Aoidh and is believed to be a northern variation of the MacKee surname. Makey was first mentioned as Make in Middle English records of Scotland in the 14th century.
Makie is derived from Mac Aoidh and is another variant of MacKee. Makie was first recorded in North-eastern Scotland in the 16th century. It was the first known surname formed from the Clan Makie of Aberdeenshire.
McKey is also derived from Mac Aoidh and is most closely associated with Scotland’s Borders region. It was first mentioned as McKey in the records of the Borders in the early 16th century.
M’Kee is derived from Mac Aodha and is considered a variant of MacKee. M'Kee was first seen as M'Kee in Middle English records from North-eastern Scotland in the 15th century.
MacAodha and MacAoidh are the Gaelic versions of the surname MacKee. MacAodha was first recorded in Scotland in the 16th century and MacAoidh arose in the Borders region in the 14th century.
Famous people with the name MacKee
- Neil MacKee: Actor who has appeared in popular films such as The Princess Bride and Cemetery Man.
- Lois MacKee: Actress who starred in The Becoming of Joanne, an independent film.
- Siobhan MacKee: Actress known for playing the role of Sir David in the British period television drama The Paradise.
- Scarlett MacKee: Current actress well-known for playing the role of agent androgynous assistant on the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots.
- Misha MacKee: Former high-fashion and editorial model who is now an actress and singer.
- Ewan MacKee: British actor and voice over artist whose popular works include performing as a voice of Bentinck in Frankenstein Chaos.
- Kayleigh MacKee: Actress and singer known for her roles in musicals such as High School Musical, Summer Stories, and Les Miserables.
- Cara MacKee: Award-winning makeup-artist responsible for the transformations in films such as Stranger Things and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
- Cathleen MacKee: Professional cheerleader, model, and actress.
- John MacKee: Voice artist primarily known for his role as Captain Kratos in the Disney/Pixar film Wreck-It Ralph.