Surname McKee - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Unveiling Surname McKee's Gaelic Roots and Resilient History through an iGENEA DNA Test
My recent iGENEA DNA test unveiled the fascinating heritage of my surname, McKee. Rooted in Celtic mythology and found primarily in Scotland and Northern Ireland, "McKee" is steeped in history and grit. Resilience, adaptation, and survival define the journey of my McKee lineage, taking them from the highlands of Scotland to various corners of the world.
M. McKee
read moreMcKee: What does the surname McKee mean?
The surname McKee is of Scottish and Irish origin and is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Aodha," meaning "son of Aodh." Aodh, also known as Aed or Hugh, is an ancient Celtic name associated with fire and derived from the old Irish word "aed," which means fire. Thus, the surname McKee can essentially be interpreted as "son of fire." The name is most prevalent in Northern Ireland, particularly in County Antrim. It gained popularity during the 17th century. In Ireland, the name was often anglicized as "Hughes," since Hugh is the English equivalent of Aodh. Like many surnames of Gaelic origin, it has several different spellings, including McKay, McKie, and McHugh.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKee: Where does the name McKee come from?
The last name McKee is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Aodha," meaning son of Aodh, with Aodh being an old personal name equivalent to Hugh. The name was first found in Ayrshire of south-west Scotland where they have held a family seat from ancient times. There were also families of McKee in counties Monaghan and Down in Ireland, where the name had been introduced from Scotland in the 17th century.
Today, the last name McKee is common in countries with significant populations of Scottish and Irish descendants, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland. Several American cities feature a high concentration of individuals with the surname, including San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Despite its ancient roots in Scotland, McKee is not among the most common surnames in contemporary Scotland.
Variations of the surname McKee
The surname McKee is of Scottish and Irish origin. It’s derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Aodha", which means "son of Aodh" or "son of Hugh." Over the years, the name evolved with different spellings due to variations in regional dialects and phonetic transcription.
Variants of the surname McKee include Mackey, Mackie, McKay, MacKay, MacKee. It is interesting to note that some surnames include an apostrophe such as Mc’Kee. Some versions lost the Mac or Mc over time, resulting in surnames like Kee, Key, or Kay.
When Irish and Scottish immigrants moved to the English-speaking world, especially North America, different spellings were adopted, such as McGee and Mckie, due to approximate pronunciation.
Surnames like Hughes might have a common root with McKee in Ireland where both could translate as "son of Hugh."
Despite the nuances and differences between these names, they all retain their connection to the original Scottish Gaelic "Mac Aodha." Each variant has its unique history and distribution, which reflects the rich cultural heritage and migration patterns of those carrying these names.
Famous people with the name McKee
- Robin McKee: An acclaimed Canadian voice actress known for her role in Dragon Ball Z.
- David McKee: A British author and illustrator, best known for creating the children's book series Elmer the Patchwork Elephant.
- Andy McKee: An American fingerstyle guitar player who has released five albums and been the subject of YouTube videos, garnering over 50 million views.
- Maria McKee: An American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with the band Lone Justice and her song "Show Me Heaven", which topped the UK Singles Chart.
- Bonnie McKee: An American singer-songwriter and industry heavyweight who has co-written eight #1 singles in the US.
- Steve McKee: A sportswriter for The Wall Street Journal.
- Thomas McKee: An American actor known for his role in the film The Goonies.
- Sam McKee: A renowned American sports broadcaster.
- Shawn David McKee: An American physicist notorious for his contributions towards developing the World Wide Web.
- Declan McKee: Northern Irish actor known for his role in BBC drama '6Degrees'.
- Ryan McKee: A New Zealand cricketer.
- Billy McKee: A founding member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
- Gerald McKee: Former Irish sportsman.
- Louise McKee: a Northern Irish Unionist politician.