Surname MacNevin - Meaning and Origin
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MacNevin: What does the surname MacNevin mean?
The last name MacNevin is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name “Mac an Neamhain”, meaning “son of the saint”. This surname is believed to have originated in the County Sligo area of Ireland, but can be found throughout the country.
The MacNevin name was likely brought to Ireland by the Normans in the twelfth century. It was then passed down through the generations of Irish families. The name is still common in Ireland today, especially in the counties of Connacht, Ulster, and Leinster.
Some believe that the surname MacNevin refers to the ancient Irish saint Neamhan, who is said to have been related to St. Patrick. The family name is also sometimes spelled Mac Neavin, Mac Nevin, or Mac Nivin.
MacNevin is a sept of Clan Mac Diarmid, a branch of the ancient Irish family, Mac Dermot. As such, the name was assumed by people with Mac Dermot ancestry. Those with the name MacNevin should be proud of their proud Irish heritage and continue to uphold the traditions of their ancestors.
Whether the MacNevin name is traced back to a Saint or the Mac Dermot sept, it is a noteworthy Irish name with a proud history. Its presence has been an important part of Ireland for centuries and should be celebrated today.
Order DNA origin analysisMacNevin: Where does the name MacNevin come from?
The last name MacNevin is of Gaelic origin and historically associated with Ireland. It is thought that it derived from the Irish Ninín, which means "little one." In modern times, the surname is still used throughout Ireland but can most prominently be found in counties Cork, Donegal, Leitrim, and Sligo.
MacNevin is also commonly seen in Scotland, due to ancestral links between Ireland and Scotland, a connection reinforced by the Scottish poet Norman MacCaig who had Irish ancestry with the surname MacNevin. This surname is less common in other parts of the British Isles but has also been used in England and Wales.
The surname MacNevin has also spread to North America from its Irish roots and can be found in Canada, the United States, and other parts of the world. Currently, the United States is the source of the most MacNevin families. In terms of numbers, the majority of MacNevin families are to be found in Canada, with the country having over 3,000 individuals registered with the surname.
Overall, throughout the British Isles and North American, the surname MacNevin is most commonly seen in areas that were once homes to Irish immigrants. It is especially well established in the areas of Scotland and Ireland, as well as Canada.
Variations of the surname MacNevin
The surname MacNevin is chiefly found in Irish history, originating as an Anglicized version of the Irish name Mac an Neamhain, which literally translates to “son of the heavenly one”. It is a variant of the surnames McNevin or MacNevin, and other spellings and variants of this name may include Mac Nevin, MacKnevin, MacKnevinne, MacKnevinney, MacNavin, MacNevinne, MacNevinney, MacNevinny, McNevin, McNevinney, McNevinny, Mac Eniff, McEniff, and Mac an Neamhain.
The MacNevin family is most commonly found in Northern Ireland and the western part of Scotland. They are believed to have immigrated to Scotland from Donegal and Tyrone in Ireland during the seventeenth century. The surname is also found in the United States, Canada, and Australia, as well as some other parts of the world.
MacNevin is also found as a variant of the Scottish surname Nevin, derived from the Gaelic sobriquet Neamhain, meaning “holy” or “spiritual”. Nevin is also an Irish surname, derived from the Irish Mac Naomhain, which is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac an Neamhain. This surname is also found in both Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as the United States and other parts of the world.
The surnames McNevin and MacNevin are derived from the same origin and are interchangeable, but the spelling variations can vary in some cases. Regardless of the spelling, all these surnames come from the same Gaelic root, meaning that those who bear this surname are likely related in some way.
Famous people with the name MacNevin
- Rob MacNevin: Professional Canadian ice hockey player for the Timmins Rock of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
- George MacNevin: Canadian Member of Parliament for the provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia
- James MacNevin: Former Liberal Member of Parliament for the provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick
- John MacNevin: Canadian journalist and broadcaster
- Mary MacNevin: Canadian nurse and politician
- Joe MacNevin: Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Lise MacNevin: Canadian Paralympic snowboarder and alpine skier
- Matilda MacNevin: Canadian civil rights activist and suffragist
- Danny MacNevin: Canadian actor and host
- Mike MacNevin: Canadian football player
- Alex MacNevin: Canadian Writer
- Pat MacNevin: Canadian actor, comedian, and game show host