Origin of the surname Mccoy

Recorded as McCoy and sometimes McKoy, this interesting surname is of Irish, Scottish and Manx origins. It is a developed form of the Old Gaelic Mac Aodha, meaning the son of Fire, originally the name of a Celtic pagan god. The McCoys came to Ireland as gallowglasses, their home territory being the Isel of Man and the southern isles of Scotland such as Islay. In Ireland the surname is chiefly found in the Counties of Armagh and Monaghan with a sprinkling in County Limerick and even far away in Cork.

The name dates back to the late 11th Century (see below), and it is said that there are at least fifteen forms of the name including: McCoy, Mckay, McKoy, McKey, McKee McCay, McKie, and even McGee, although this is disputed by some researchers. Examples of recordings include the marriage of Michael McCoy and Anne Booth at St. George's chapel, Hyde Park, Westminster, on December 19th 1742, and Charles McCoy, christened on April 13th 1766, at St. Leonard's Shoreditch, in the city of London. Interesting namebearers, recorded in the "Dictionary of National Biography", include Rev. Edward Mc Coy (1839 - 1872), a noted Gaelic writer, and Sir Frederick Mac Coy (1823 - 1899) a Dublin-born naturist, best known for his work in that field in Australia. As to whom the "Real McCoy" was remains unproven. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Cucail Mac Aedha. This was dated 1098, in the dictionary of Manx Names. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Mccoy. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of mccoy leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname mccoy is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname mccoy, and in addition to the original locations of mccoy, we can find out where people with the surname mccoy can currently be found.

The surname Mccoy around the world

There is a considerable probability that mccoy has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where mccoy is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname mccoy provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname mccoy has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Mccoy

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named mccoy are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname mccoy, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of mccoy developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname mccoy are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of mccoy could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about mccoy and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname mccoy or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of mccoy.

Notable Figures Named Mccoy

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname mccoy, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname mccoy were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like mccoy can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname mccoy who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Mccoy and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname mccoy, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of mccoy are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname mccoy, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of mccoy, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Mccoy