Surname McCloskey - Meaning and Origin
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McCloskey: What does the surname McCloskey mean?
The last name McCloskey is of Irish Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Bhloscaidh, which means "son of Bhloscaidh." The main clan using this name came from Ulster, with most being found in County Derry, although many can also be traced back to Donegal. The name Bhloscaidh is thought to mean "blotchy," possibly suggesting that an early ancestor had a skin condition, or it could be a nickname relating to their personality or profession. Over time, as Gaelic names were anglicized and morphed, this became McCloskey. Like many Irish surnames, it has seen numerous spelling variations over the centuries, including MacCloskey, McCloskie, and others. It’s worthy to note that surnames weren't always used in Ireland and became more common after the Norman invasion in the 12th century. Today, the surname McCloskey is found worldwide due to the Irish diaspora, especially in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCloskey: Where does the name McCloskey come from?
The last name McCloskey is of Irish origin, specifically from the northern region of Ulifia in Ireland. It is derived from the Old Gaelic name, Mac Bhloscaidh, which translates to 'son of the green bud.' It is a patronymic surname form indicating 'son of Closkey.'
McCloskey is common among people of Irish descent around the world, with notable concentrations in Ireland, England, Australia, Canada, and the United States, specifically in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts due to historical immigration patterns. There is also a notable population of McCloskeys in Northern Ireland due to an intermixing of Irish cultures. Despite spreading worldwide, it remains less common when considering global population scales, as is the case with many surnames of specific regional origin.
Variations of the surname McCloskey
The surname McCloskey is of Irish origin and belongs to the category of patronymic surnames. The original Irish form of the name is "Mac Bhloscaidh" which can denote the Son of the Herald. Variations of the surname McCloskey often result from a multitude of spelling and pronunciations depending on regional accents and linguistic influences.
Alternate versions of the name include MacCloskey, McCluskey, MacCluskey, McCloskie and MacCloskie. Some other possible variants of the name could be McCloskeigh, McClosky, MacClosky, MacCluskie, and McCluskie. Simplified renditions of the name also exist, such as McLoskey or MacLoskey.
Pronunciation modifications have led to forms such as McCloskay and McClosquay. In some cases, the 'Mc' or 'Mac' prefix (denoting 'son of') is dropped, leading to variations like Loskey, Closkey, or Closky.
Due to the influence of a culture that preferred anglicized forms, one might also encounter spellings like McClosky, Mc Cluskey, or Mac Cluskey with space within the surname.
In conclusion, the potential range for variations of the McCloskey surname is quite vast due to regional accents, pronunciation preferences and historical Anglicization.
Famous people with the name McCloskey
- Rosemary McCloskey: Australian actress
- Laurine McCloskey: American figure skater
- Paul McCloskey: American professional boxer
- Pete McCloskey: former United States Congressman
- Mark R. McCloskey: American attorney
- Patrick McCloskey: political activist and author
- J. P. McCloskey: American bishop
- J. G. McCloskey: Canadian politician
- Kenneth McCloskey: Canadian novelist
- Mary Ann McCloskey: American author
- Aaron McCloskey: American football player
- Ian McCloskey: American actor
- Johnny McCloskey: American rowing Olympic athlete
- Jack McCloskey: American basketball coach
- John McCloskey: Irish Roman Catholic cardinal
- Robert J. McCloskey: American diplomat and author
- Andrew McCloskey: British artist
- Joseph McCloskey: American Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- Andrew McCloskey: Australian actor
- Gyles McLoskey: Australian cricketer