Surname McCoy - Meaning and Origin
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N. McCoy
read moreMcCoy: What does the surname McCoy mean?
The last name McCoy is of Gaelic origin and derived from the personal name Aodh, which means "fire". It was used to describe a son of Aodh, often becoming "Mac Aodh" (Mac means son in Gaelic). Over time, this changed phonetically and was anglicized to "McCoy". It is prevalent in Ireland, particularly in the region of Ulster. Sometimes the surname McCoy is associated with the phrase "The real McCoy" symbolizing authenticity or the genuine article. This expression gained popularity due to several historical figures bearing the name McCoy, who were known for their authenticity or unmatched qualities in their respective fields.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCoy: Where does the name McCoy come from?
The last name McCoy is of Irish origin and derived from the Gaelic name Mac Aodha, meaning the "son of Aodh" or "son of Fire". It is linked to the Gaelic deity of the sun and fire, Aodh. It is known from the famous feud between the two families, the Hatfields and the McCoys, in the United States in the 19th century.
Today, the surname McCoy is common in several English-speaking countries. It is particularly prevalent in the United States, where it is ranked as the 853rd most common surname. Within the U.S, McCoy is most common in Texas, followed by California and Florida. The name is also prevalent in Scotland, Australia, Canada, and Northern Ireland. However, the highest density of the McCoy surname is in Jamaica per population size.
Variations of the surname McCoy
The surname McCoy is of Gaelic origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aodha", meaning the son of Aodh (the Celtic god of fire). The name could also come from a shortened form of the personal name Aodh McCoy, meaning "son of Aed or Aodh". The surname is common in Scotland and Ireland.
Alternative spellings and variants of the surname McCoy include MacCoy, MacCoye, M'coy, MacKy, MacKey, MacCay, McEvoy, McAfee, McFee, McFey and more. Ancient spellings include Olecay, Olichay, and Olichaye. This surname might also appear as a first name, especially in its Irish form, Mckay, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Aodha. This is because, in Gaelic, 'Mac' denotes 'son of', and 'Hoy' or 'Aodha' means 'fire'.
Because some descendant families emigrated to different parts of the world, the surname may have deviated into local forms and spellings corresponding to a particular language or dialect. Examples of such modifications based on geographical location and local dialect would include MacKoy in Scotland, McCoy in Ireland, and McHoy in England.
Sometimes the anglicization process resulted in diverse forms. For instance, in Ireland, where Irish Gaelic is the pre-dominant language, the surname McCoy is often anglicized to Hughes.
Famous people with the name McCoy
- Elijah McCoy: A Canadian-American inventor and engineer of the 19th century, his "Real McCoy" automatic oiler radically improved industrial machinery’s efficiency and longevity.
- LisaRaye McCoy: An American actress, model, and fashion designer, best known for her role in the comedy-drama television series "All of Us".
- Colt McCoy: An American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.
- Neal McCoy: An American country music singer with multiple Billboard top hits like "No Doubt About It" and "Wink".
- Gerald McCoy: An American football defensive tackle who is a free agent and has played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers in the NFL.
- Matthew McCoy: An American politician and member of the Iowa State Senate.
- Real McCoy: A German Eurodance group that was extremely popular in the ’90s.
- Travelin' Mccoy: A popular 1970s funk band.
- Horace McCoy: An American author best known for his hardboiled novels like "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?".
- McLean Stevenson (born Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr.): An American actor who portrayed Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on the television series M*A*S*H.