Surname McAfee - Meaning and Origin
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read moreMcAfee: What does the surname McAfee mean?
The surname McAfee is of Scottish and Irish origin and it derives from the Gaelic Mac Dhuibhshíthe, which literally means "son of the black peace." The name is made up of two parts: "Mac," an element meaning "son of," and "Dhuibhshíthe," a personal name composed of the elements "dubh," meaning "black," and "síth," meaning "peace." Therefore, the name can be interpreted as the "son of the black peace." This name was used to denote the descendants of Dubhshith, who was a chief in the Hebrides. Over time and with geographical relocations, the name has undergone various changes in spelling, including variations such as McAfee, MacAfee, MacAffee, and others. It is also important to note that in some cases, the name could be of habitational origin, named after places such as McAfee, Kentucky. Like many surnames, the meaning doesn't necessarily reveal a direct characteristic or occupation of the bearer.
Order DNA origin analysisMcAfee: Where does the name McAfee come from?
The last name McAfee is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Dhuibhshíthe, which means "son of Duibhshíth". The personal name Duibhshíth is composed of the elements "dubh" meaning "black", and "síth" meaning "peace". This name was particularly associated with County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
McAfee was first found in the territories of Dalriada in Early Scotland during the Middle Ages. After the 12th century, many of them moved to the Ulster region in Ireland following the Norman invasion of Scotland.
In modern times, the surname McAfee is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, particularly in the counties of Antrim and Down. However, due to emigration, primarily during the time of the Great Famine in the 19th century, the name has also become prevalent in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, McAfees are mostly found in Southern states like North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Variations of the surname McAfee
The surname McAfee is of Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Dhuibhshíthe", which translates to "son of Duibhshíth". This compound personal name - Duibhshíth - means "black peace". The prefix "Mac" signifies "son of".
Several variations of the surname exist, which possibly evolved due to geographical dispersion and changes over the centuries. These variants include MacAfee, MacAffee, MacCaffee, MacHaffie, MacCafferty, McAffee, McCaffee, and McHaffie. As families emigrated, the surname was also tailored to accommodate different languages and dialects, hence the numerous spellings.
The surname might be also be connected to the geographical area, generally for those who lived in or near the Irish region of County Monaghan. In this case, variants such as Meighan, Meehan, Meegin, Meagin, Meegan, and M'Veagh have been observed.
These variations are all indicative of the same lineage, interconnected by common ancestry. However, it must be noted that over time and migration, these names may independently branch out leading to unique familial ties.
Lastly, due to the common utilization of "Mac" or "Mc" in many Scottish and Irish surnames, McAfee could potentially be mistaken with phonetically similar surnames.
Famous people with the name McAfee
- John McAfee: John is a famous British-American computer programmer and businessman who created the world's first commercial antivirus software, McAfee.
- John McAfee Jr.: John Jr. is the son of John McAfee and is an established entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
- Cynthia McAfee: Cynthia is a well-known American actress, best known for her appearances in films such as Hart's War and Galaxy Quest.
- Keri McAfee: Keri is a renowned American internet celebrity and influencer with a large following on social media.
- Meghan McAfee: Meghan is a professional gamer and Twitch streamer, best known for streaming games such as Overwatch and Counter-Strike.
- Grant McAfee: Grant is a successful professional tennis player, highest ranked in the United States in singles and doubles.
- Philip McAfee: Philip is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and investor. He is also an author and angel investor.
- Melissa McAfee: Melissa is a popular American actress, whose notable works include Black-ish and How I Met Your Mother.
- Anne McAfee: Anne is an American novelist, best known for her book Behind the Shining Stars.
- Thomas McAfee: Thomas is a renowned American military veteran, best known for his service in the Vietnam War.