Magee
An Irish surname usually meaning “son of Aodh,” with some related forms also linked to a byname for “wind.”
The #1,269 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 11,138 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Magee is most commonly explained as an Anglicized form of Irish Mac Aodha or Mac Aedha, meaning “son of Aodh.” Aodh is an old Irish personal name associated with fire or ardor. Some historical writers also connected related Magee forms with Irish names involving gaelic words for “wind,” but the Mac Aodha derivation is the standard explanation.
History
The name is long established in Ireland and appears in multiple spellings, including MacGee, McGee, and MacGhee. In some regions the initial Mac was later dropped or weakened in pronunciation, which helped produce the shorter form Magee. It is especially familiar in Ulster and among Irish diaspora communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname’s core personal name, Aodh, is one of the oldest and most widespread Irish given names, and it underlies many Irish surnames beyond Magee.
From the historical record
“= the Meadow-Field [O.E. m(hd + ledh] MAGEE (Celt,)- Son of Aedh or Aodh = Ardour [If. Mac Aedha 01 MacAodha (dh mute)— mac, son + the genit. of aedh, aodh, ardour, fire : cp. Wei. aidd, ardour] Cp. Maokay ; also Aidar) ilJlAGlNNIsl^^^"^^"""''^-"”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)