Surname Mac Nevin - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Nevin: What does the surname Mac Nevin mean?
The last name Mac Nevin is of Irish origin and is derived from the phrase "Mac an eóghain", which literally translates to "son of the descendant of Eóghan." It is thought to have originated as a patronymic surname from the ancient Gaelic sept of O’Neill of Connacht. The Mac Nevin surname is today found mainly in Ulster and Counties Cavan and Leitrim in Ireland.
The O'Neill sept descended from Eóghan, a mythical ancestor of the Cenél Eóghain, an ancient Irish kingdom and people of North-West Ulster who spoke the language of Ulster. The area was historically divided between the counties of Donegal, Derry, and Tyrone. The O'Neils were powerful rulers and many of them were recognised as kings and chiefs.
The name Mac Nevin began to appear in Irish records in 1290 when the O'Néil clan evicted the sept from their territories. The clan went on to establish several branches in Ireland and Scotland, with the most prominent being those of County Claire and County Cavan. The Mac Nevin family is recorded in many Irish records, including the Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Ulster.
The name is today found throughout the world, particularly in the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Britain. Those who bear this surname are proud of their Irish heritage and proud of their strong ties to Ulster and their ancient forebears.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Nevin: Where does the name Mac Nevin come from?
The last name Mac Nevin is a common surname found in Ireland. The earliest recorded deeds that include Mac Nevin date back to the 12th century in the Coaches region of Ireland. It is believed the name comes from the Irish word "Mac Naoimhín," which translates to "son of little Saint."
Today, the surname Mac Nevin is most common in counties Down and Westmeath in Ireland. The surname is also well represented in the United States, where many people of Irish descent settled during the 1800s. In the US, Mac Nevin has become a popular surname in the states of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California.
According to the website House of Names, the name Mac Nevin is also commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is likely that the surname was brought to these countries by immigrants who had fled Ireland during the Great Famine of the 19th century.
The Mac Nevin surname is still popular in modern times and can be found in places around the world. With the rise of DNA testing, it is likely that even more people today will discover they descend from Irish families with the surname Mac Nevin.
Variations of the surname Mac Nevin
The surname Mac Nevin has two main variants in its spelling, MacNevin and Mac Neven. These two variants are generally interchangeable, as they both refer to the same family origin.
MacNevin is the earliest known spelling of the name and was found at the turn of the 17th century in County Armagh and County Cavan, Ireland. This spelling continued to be used up to the present day but has since been adopted by more branches of the same family.
Mac Neven is a variant of the earlier MacNevin spelling and originated in Galway, Ireland in the late 18th century. In its early days, the spelling was used by several distinct branches of the Mac Nevin family, and now it is the predominant spelling found in records.
Other spellings of the surname Mac Nevin also include MacNivan, MacNeven, MacNeveen, MacNeavin, MacNeeve, McNiven, McNivenne, and McNivin. All of these spellings are either related to or derived from the original MacNevin spelling, and indicate that the individual in question is related to the original Mac Nevin family.
The surname has also been found with the surnames MacNevinney, McNevan, McNevenny, McNeavney, McNeveney, and McNivenney. Even though these surnames look quite different, they all ultimately stem from the same family origin as the Mac Nevin surname.
In conclusion, there are various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin for Mac Nevin. These include MacNevin, Mac Neven, MacNivan, MacNeven, MacNeveen, MacNeavin, MacNeeve, McNiven, McNivenne, McNivin, MacNevinney, McNevan, McNevenny, McNeavney, McNeveney, and McNivenney. All of these demonstrate a connection to the same family origin, and demonstrate the flexibility of surnames as they have evolved over time.
Famous people with the name Mac Nevin
- Reagan Mac Nevin: best known for her portrayal of Samantha Casey on the popular television series, Code Black.
- Patrick Mac Nevin: an Irish professional footballer and manager who represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
- Paul Mac Nevin: Australian professional golfer who won the 2004 Australian PGA Championship and 11 other professional tournaments.
- Murray Mac Nevin: Canadian Member of Parliament, representing the riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook from 2006 to 2015.
- Eileen Mac Nevin: Canadian politician, most recently as Mayor of the City of Kingston, for three consecutive terms from 2010-2018.
- Clare Mac Nevin: British actress and television presenter, best known for her roles in the BBC shows New Tricks and Doc Martin.
- Ryan Mac Nevin: Canadian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- Abigail Mac Nevin: Irish actress best known for her roles in television series such as Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.
- Grant Mac Nevin: British rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his work with the bands U2 and The Cult.
- Ross Mac Nevin: Scottish actor best known for his roles in films such as Trainspotting and The Mummy Returns.