Surname M'Coy - Meaning and Origin

M'Coy: What does the surname M'Coy mean?

The origin and meaning of the surname M'Coy is somewhat unclear. It appears to be derived from either the Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh," or the Irish Mac Cathmhaoil, meaning "son of Cathmhaoil." It is also believed that the surname may have descended from an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, which is synonymous with the Welsh surname MacKay.

The surname M’Coy is most commonly associated with Ireland, and it is believed to have been in use there since the 14th century. It could have been derived from the Irish sept (sub-group of a clan) of Mac Aodha, who were based in what is now County Mayo. Alternatively, it could have been derived from the Irish branch of the clan Cunningham, based in the County Cavan.

The M'Coy surname is found in various parts of the world, especially North America. For example, in the United States, it is one of the most common names in Mississippi and Tennessee, and is also found in other states such as Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

Regardless of the origin of the name M'Coy, it is a reminder of the diversity and complexity of family names. It serves as a reminder that surnames can have different origins and meanings, and that they often become associated with certain groups or places.

M'Coy: Where does the name M'Coy come from?

The last name M'Coy is most commonly found today in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The M'Coy family name is believed to have originated in Ireland in the 12th century, most likely derived from a Gaelic word meaning "son of Aodh" or "son of fire."

In the United States, the M'Coy family name resides in 39 out of the 50 states. In 1880, the greatest number of M'Coys lived in Indiana, but by the year 2000, the highest concentration of M'Coys was in Texas.

In the United Kingdom, M'Coy is especially common in Northern Ireland, where it is the 73rd most popular surname in the country. The M'Coy family is believed to have immigrated to Northern Ireland from Scotland; descendants of M'Coys can now be found throughout the entire United Kingdom.

The M'Coy surname remains common today because of its low variation throughout different parts of the world, and the fact that family members typically chose not to change their surname when they moved to a new location. Today, the M'Coy surname is more than likely to continue to be in use for generations to come.

Variations of the surname M'Coy

The surname M'Coy is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name Mac Aodha. It primarily originated in Ireland, but it also appears in Scotland. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Mac Aodha, MacCoy, McCoy, Mac Cee, MacCae, Mackay, MacKaye, MacKee, M’Kea, MacKee, MacKY, MacKye and Birney.

Mac Aodha or Mac Aoidh is derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac Aodha. The Gaelic came from the Irish word for “son” and the personal name Aodh, which was a popular name among Gaelic-speaking people. It is also related to the Scottish name Mackay, which is derived from Mac Aoidh in Scots Gaelic. The surnames Mac Coy, MacCoy and McCoy were derived from the English-language phonetic spelling of the Gaelic Mac Aodh.

MacCee is a variant of the Irish name Mac Aodha. It is thought to be derived from the Irish word for “son of Aodh” and also has associations with the Scottish name MacKay. MacCae is a Scottish variant of MacCoy. It is derived from the Old Irish-Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning son of Aodh.

Mackay, MacKaye, MacKee, M’Kea, MacKee, MacKY and MacKye all originated in Scotland as variants of Mac Aoidh. Birney is an English variant of the surname, derived from Burney, which is thought to be a corruption of the Gaelic Mac Aodha.

Famous people with the name M'Coy

• Rose M'Coy, actress
• Casey M'Coy, NASCAR driver
• Rocky M'Coy, professional wrestler
• Adam M'Coy, primatologist
• Thomas M'Coy, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader
• Ryan M'Coy, singer
• Jake M'Coy, author
• Amber M'Coy, Olympic figure skater
• Heather M'Coy, former Alaska state representative
• Alexis M'Coy, Olympic rhythmic gymnast
• Lazar M'Coy, former NFL player
• Sebastian M'Coy, British actor
• Breann M'Coy, professional surfer
• Echo M'Coy, singer
• Xavier M'Coy, Founder and CEO of Lumineux Motors
• Quincy M'Coy, Broadway actor
• Lyle M'Coy, former President of the Navajo Nation
• Steve M'Coy, Internet entrepreneur
• Pearl M'Coy, fashion designer
• Charles M'Coy, musician and producer

Other surnames

M'CowisM'Coyne