Surname M'Kee - Meaning and Origin
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M'Kee: What does the surname M'Kee mean?
The surname M’Kee is of Scottish origin, and is derived from the Middle English phrase 'make yow', meaning 'son of'. It most likely refers to a lineage of the same surname, particularly that of a clan by the same name, which originated in the Highlands of Scotland.
The M’Kee clan was mainly located in the Argyll region. The surname was also found throughout Ulster, with different spellings - usually MacKee or MkKee. Various spellings of the surname were later found in North America, due to the waves of Scottish immigration to the continent in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The earliest recorded instance of the M’Kee surname was Malcolm Makky in 1296, though recordkeeping at this time was unreliable. It quickly grew in popularity from this point, with the surname being found in the various registers of births, deaths, and marriages from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries.
The M’Kee family has a long and distinguished history. They originally lived in Scotland in the Argyll region, and many emigrated to Ulster and North America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, many M’Kee descendants can be found in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. The name M’Kee is now a reminder of the significant contributions the family has made throughout history.
Order DNA origin analysisM'Kee: Where does the name M'Kee come from?
The last name M’Kee is most commonly found in Ireland today. However, it is by no means confined to that country, as its reach extends to the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada as well.
The M’Kee name is believed to have originated from the ancient Irish Seanchaidh or scribe. Many of these early Seanchaidh families used the prefix “Mac” or “Mc” to denote their family name. Over the centuries, the M’Kee name has evolved and could sometimes be spelled MacKee, McKee and MacKee, although all forms have the same meaning.
In Ireland today, the M’Kee family is typically associated with Co. Donegal, where the name is concentrated around the city of Derry. Outside of Ireland, the M’Kee family is found mainly in England, particularly in the north-west and Midlands and in Scotland. In the United States, the M’Kees are most common in New Jersey, and also in parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and the Midwestern states.
The M’Kee name is still quite common today in many parts of the world and continues to be celebrated around the world. The M’Kee family can also be found in Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and other countries as well.
Variations of the surname M'Kee
The surname McKee (spelled M'Kee) is of Irish origin but is also found in Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Aoidh', meaning son of Aodh. Variations of the name McKee include McKie, MacKie, M'Kee, McKaie, MacKae, McKeehan, MacKeehan, MacKeel, MacKeal, McKiel, and McKill. It can be found with the spelling McKy, MacKy, MacKady, MacKie, McKie, MacKye, MacKigh, MacKight, MacQuoid, MacQuaide, MacQuayd, MacQuaed, MacQuaid and MacQuoddy as well.
The name McKee is also used as a middle name in honour of relatives by many members of the McKee family. Other variants of the name McKee include McKeehan, McKeever, MacKeever, McKiever, McKeoven, McKivering, McKievan, McKeven, MacKiven, and McKeven.
The McKee surname is not exclusive to one particular county in Ireland, although the majority of McKees hail from County Antrim. Its derivation from the Gaelic "Mac Aoidh" can be traced back to the Clan Aoidh in Ireland, and the McKee variant may be found as a name in Scotland, Ireland, the UK, and the USA.
Its pronunciation varies slightly depending on the dialect of the speaker. In Scotland, it is usually pronounced "mock-eh". In Ireland, it is pronounced "muh-kee". In the United States, it is most commonly pronounced "muh-key".
The McKee surname is fairly common, with approximately 29,000 people in the United States and slightly more than 11,000 people in the UK currently using the name. In addition, there are large numbers of people named McKee in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and nations which have received immigrants from the UK, Ireland, and Scotland.
Famous people with the name M'Kee
- Gordon McKee: Belizean politician and advocate for improved health care in the country
- J. Paul McKee: American entrepreneur, businessman, and real estate developer from St. Louis, Missouri.
- Colin McKee: New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player
- Hannah McKee: American professional beach volleyball player
- Boyd McKee: American race car driver in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series
- Robert McKee: American author, lecturer, story consultant, speaker, and teacher on the subject of screenwriting
- David McKee: English author and illustrator, best known for his Mr. Men and Little Miss series of books
- Angus McKee: Canadian actor and producer who has appeared in many feature films and television series
- Danni McKee: Canadian singer/songwriter, originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia
- John Paul McKee: American professional basketball player
- John McKee: American film director, producer, and visual effects supervisor
- Katrina McKee: New Zealand squash player
- Brian McKee: American actor, director, and producer
- Colleen McKee: Canadian synchronized swimmer
- Sheena McKee: Irish singer/songwriter
- Jack McKee: American cinematographer and filmmaker
- Ollie McKee: Australian footballer
- Megan McKee: American figure skater
- William McKee: American musician and songwriter
- Ufitia Taumoepeau McKee: Tuvaluan politician