Mackay Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Mackay last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
Meaning and origin of the Mackay last name
Meaning of the Mackay last name: son of Aodh ("fire"). Mackay is the anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Aoidh, "son of Aodh", an old personal name meaning "fire". The Mackays were the dominant family of Strathnaver in the far north of Sutherland from the 15th century, and the territory was long known as the Mackay country, Dùthaich MhicAoidh. Many Mackays served as soldiers in the Thirty Years' War. After the Highland Clearances the name spread widely to Nova Scotia, Ontario and New Zealand. Strathnaver, the valley of the River Naver, was one of the areas most affected by the Highland Clearances in the early 19th century, when tenants were removed to make way for sheep farms. The Mackay regiment, raised by Sir Donald Mackay in 1626, fought for Denmark and Sweden. The name is pronounced to rhyme with "sky" in Scotland. Mackays emigrated widely to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Mackay name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Mackay name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Canada, the United States and New Zealand; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Mackay family history
The complete Mackay pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Mackay name FAQ
What does the Mackay name mean?
Son of Aodh ("fire"). Common variants include MacKay, McKay, MacKie.
Where does the Mackay surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Canada, the United States and New Zealand.
Is there a Mackay coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Mackay crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Mackay coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).