Magee
What is the origin of the last name Magee?
Meaning and origin
The last name Magee originates from Ireland and Scotland, where it is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Aodha" or "Mag Aodha", meaning "son of Aodh" or "descendant of Aodh." Aodh is a Gaelic personal name meaning "fire" or "burning," conveying a sense of passion or fierceness. The name Magee has variations such as McGee, McGehee, and Macgee.
The longer story
The last name Magee holds a rich historical significance and is intertwined with various cultures and regions. Derived from the Irish name MacAoidh , its meaning can be traced back to ancient Gaelic origins.
The name Magee is believed to derive from the personal name Aodh , which means "fire" or "radiance" in Gaelic. This association with fire may denote qualities such as passion, determination, and ambition within individuals carrying this surname.
Throughout history, the Magee name has undergone transformations and spellings variations. It is important to acknowledge that the study of surnames is multifaceted, and precise linguistic connections can be difficult to establish with absolute certainty.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,269
Magee was the 1,269th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 27,720 people, about 9.0 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Magee
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Magee is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.