Surname MacNay - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacNay: What does the surname MacNay mean?
The last name MacNay is a Scottish surname that is derived from the Gaelic MacAnaidh which means “son of Anaidh”. Anaidh was a personal name that originated in the Pictish culture of ancient Scotland and is thought to mean “unbending”.
The MacNay family was clan of the Hogan-Murray clan that held the barony of MacNay in the Mearns region of Scotland. The family was historically found in the rural region of Mearns and were often referred to as “Miller MacNays” because of their occupations as millers.
The family extended its influence in the region and, by the 14th Century, they had established a history of being prominent landowners. They also claimed kinship with the neighbouring Gordon family, uniting when the Clan Gordon was driven out of Duffus in Moray in 1638.
The MacNays are usually categorized as Lowland Scots although some rivalries with the Highland clans can be seen in records of their ancestral past. The MacNay family motto is “Recte et Audacter” which translates to “Act Rightly and Fearlessly”, a testament to their proud heritage and their perseverence to stand up for what was right.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNay: Where does the name MacNay come from?
The surname MacNay is quite uncommon today. However, it is still present in various locations around the world. According to ancestry.com’s records, the surname MacNay is seen in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and England.
Scotland is the most common place for the surname to be found today. It has been recorded since at least the 1500s within Scotland’s borders. It is thought that this is due to the settling of the McNeill Clan in a region known as MacNeills Country. It is also possible that some of the McNeill clan adopted the surname MacNay.
Ireland also has a significant number of individuals with the surname MacNay, however, a large portion of these are descended from Scottish immigrants. The fact that the surname is found in both Scotland and Ireland confirms the theory that this surname is derived from the McNeill Clan.
In the United States, more specifically, New York State, the surname is seen in smaller numbers. This is likely due to the large number of Scottish immigrants coming to the US in the 1800s.
The surname is less prominent in the other countries mentioned, but can still be seen in their populations. With the wide spread of the surname around the world, it is easy to see that the surname MacNay is still seen today.
Variations of the surname MacNay
The surname MacNay is derived from the Irish and Scottish surname McAna. It is a patronymic name, derived from the given name "Ana". The surname is also found in the forms of McNay, MacAna, MacAnga, MacAnay, MacNay, MacNee, and MacNeice.
The surname MacNay can also take other spellings. In Ireland, other spellings like MacAnanny, MacCanny, MacKenny, and MacNeaney are also found. The respective forms of the surname in Scotland are found as MacAna, MacCanny, MacKenna, and MacNaney.
The most popular variant of MacNay is MacNee. It has been suggested that MacNee is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Johannach, a personal name derived from the Latin Ioannes which translates to John in English.
The surname MacNay is also associated with other variations and branches in several forms. These include: O Mac Nee, MacNiff, McEneaney, MacNea, MacNae, MacNeish, McNeece, MacNair, Mannay, MacNerney, MacNish, MacNamie, McNeaney, MacNane, MacNairney, MacNayre, MacNease, and MacNaeley.
The surname is especially popular in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is also found in other parts of the UK and in the US. The spelling “MacAnney” originated in the early 19th century in County Fermanagh and Northern Ireland.
This wide range of spellings and variants of MacNay reflects its roots in different origin languages and geographic locations.
Famous people with the name MacNay
- Colin MacNay: Canadian actor
- Allen MacNay: Retired American Air Force officer
- Elle MacNay: New Zealand dancer and actress
- Calum MacNay: Scottish actor
- Art MacNay: American actor/director
- Mary MacNay: British-American sculptor
- Lewis MacNay: New Zealand journalist
- Gail MacNay: Canadian musical director/composer
- Terence MacNay: American cartoonist
- Simon MacNay: British novelist