Gaelic sept

Magee

Mag Aoidh

Also: McGee, MacGee

“son of Aodh, 'fire'”

🏔 Antrim · Aontroim 🏔 Down · An Dún 🏔 Donegal · Dún na nGall

The sept's historic heartland, highlighted. People moved — a name can be found far from home.

The story

An east Ulster sept that gave its name to Islandmagee — and, in emigration, gave Canada a founding father: Thomas D'Arcy McGee, poet, Fenian-turned-statesman, assassinated in Ottawa.

Their world Around 1600 — The Tudor Conquest. Henry VIII takes the title 'King of Ireland' in 1541, and his children finish the work by sword, by plantation, and by the bargain called surrender and regrant.

See them on the atlas ↗

What the name is made of

Mag Aoidh
Mag — son of (the form Mac takes before a vowel or an f)
Aoidh — the ancestor, trade or place the name is built on

Find this form in the Irish-to-English index → · What Ó and Mac actually mean

Is Magee an Irish name?

Magee is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here.

The five answers, and why it is rarely yes or no →

From Wikipedia — “Magee (surname)”

Magee is an Irish and Scottish surname derived from the Irish surnames Mag Aodha and O’Maolgaoithe. It is uncommon as a given name. Notable people with the surname include:Abbie Magee, Northern Irish football player Adrian Magee, American football player Amos Magee, American soccer player, coach, and front office Dean Magee, Prominent esoteric freemason and veteran Andrew Magee, American golfer, only player in PGA history to have a hole-in-1 on a par 4 Audrey Magee, Irish novelist Barry Magee, New Zealand…

Read the full article ↗ · Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Neighbours — other names from the same counties

Bell · Antrim, Down Campbell · Antrim, Down Ferguson · Antrim, Down Gill · Donegal, Down Graham · Down, Antrim Jenkins · Antrim, Down Johnston · Down, Antrim McKeown · Antrim, Down Mitchell · Antrim, Down Morrison · Antrim, Down Murray · Down, Donegal Thompson · Antrim, Down Wilson · Antrim, Down Adams · Antrim

Quick answers

Is Magee an Irish name?

Magee is a Gaelic name: it was formed in Irish, from an Irish ancestor, before English was spoken here. In Irish the name is Mag Aoidh.

What does the surname Magee mean?

Magee (Irish: Mag Aoidh) means “son of Aodh, 'fire'”. Origin: Gaelic sept.

Where in Ireland is the surname Magee from?

The historic homeland of the Magee name is Antrim, Down, Donegal. People moved, so the name can be found far beyond it.

What is the Irish for Magee?

Mag Aoidh. Related spellings: McGee, MacGee.

Looking for the Magee family crest? Read this first — arms belong to people, not surnames, and the honest version is more interesting. Tracing Magee ancestors? The step-by-step guide.

Not your spelling? Try the full A–Z. Know more about the Magee name? Add to the story.