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Surname Cady - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'C'

Journey into my Past - Unveiling the Roots of the Cady Family through iGENEA DNA Analysis

I. Cady

An enlightening journey through iGENEA DNA analysis led me into the depth of my familial roots, specifically the origin and history of my family name, Cady. Unearthing ancestral ties to ancient Celtic tribes, understanding migratory patterns and gaining appreciation for historic contributions of the Cadys, this has truly been an enriching experience.

I. Cady

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Cady: What does the surname Cady mean?

The surname Cady is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word ‘MacCadaidh’, which means 'son of Cadaidh'. The personal name Cadaidh is derived from the Welsh ‘cad’, meaning battle. Thus, the surname can potentially be interpreted as ‘son of the battle’. The surname was first found in Cornwall, England before branching into many houses that played significant roles in the regional and national conflicts of the era. As with many surnames, variations of spellings can be found including Caddy, Cadie, Cady, Cadie, Caddye, and others. It is also a popular given name in some parts of the world. Although the family spread and branched out, the surname Cady still remains more prevalent in England. Over the years and expanded geographically, the meaning may differ slightly or its origins develop secondary connotations in line with cultural contexts and the transformation of language. In spite of these developments, the essence of the surname's root etymology prevails.

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Cady: Where does the name Cady come from?

The surname Cady is of Anglicized Irish origin. It originally comes from the Gaelic name "O'Cathaidgh", where "cathaidh" translates to vigilant or combative, which incidentally indicates the profession of warrior or soldier.

Traditionally, Irish families use the Gaelic version of their family names. Over time, as a result of the Anglish influence within Ireland and later in America, many names, including Cady, were anglicized either phonetically or at the discretion of an immigration officer if the family migrated to a new land.

Today, the surname Cady is most common in the United States, followed by England and Canada. However, it is found in 49 countries around the world to varying extents. In England, it is most common in Lincolnshire followed by Yorkshire, Warwickshire, and Norfolk. In the U.S., it is especially common in New York State. Despite these patterns, the surname is quite rare, indicating a lower than average global population.

Variations of the surname Cady

The surname Cady can be traced back to a Celtic origin and primarily to Irish and English ancestry. Variations of this surname include Cadie, Caddie, Cadée, Caddy, Cadey, Kady, Kadie, and Kaddy. In France, it may have evolved as Cadé or Cadi.

There are also similar surnames of English origin including Cadwell, Cadman, and Cadwallader. For instance, Cadwell and Cadman originally referred to a person's occupation or location, while the Welsh name Cadwallader represents a compound of 'cad', meaning 'battle', and 'gwaladr', meaning 'leader'.

The name Cady was often Anglicized from Irish surnames, especially Ó Ceadaigh, meaning 'descendant of Ceadach', with Ceadach implying a person who was 'not greedy'. Other Irish variations include O'Cady, Ceaddy, or Cadigan, which originate from regions in counties Clare and Galway.

It's also worth noting that over centuries, many surnames like Cady were modified due to colloquialisms, varied literacy levels, or simple misspelling leading to other arbitrary versions. Hence, even if they have the same root or stem, the variances in spellings stand out uniquely representing various cultural nuances.

Famous people with the name Cady

  • Rachel Cady: She is a multi-disciplinary designer and co-founder of a women-led consultancy Cady•Poe.
  • Diane Cady: She is an American artist whose work focuses on integrated drawing, painting and deciphering French philosophy.
  • Stacey Cady: She is an American singer and songwriter best known for performing alongside Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and more.
  • Erastus Cady: He was an American educator in New York City. He was a founding father of Syracuse University and served as its first headmaster.
  • Heather Cady: She is an American actress known for her roles in films such as Couples Retreat, Super 8, and more.
  • Burton Cady: He was an American composer who is notable for his classical music compositions.
  • Stanley Cady: He was an American politician and newspaper editor, and served as a state senator in Maine.
  • Wesley Cady: He was an American sculptor and educator who served as chair of the department of sculpting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
  • Edward Cady: He was an American politician, a three-term member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.
  • Fred Cady: He was an American musician and composer who composed for symphony orchestras and film scores.

Other surnames

CaddellCaddickCaddoCaddowCaddyCadeCadellCadhlaCadiganCadirCadleCadoganCadronCadwell

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