McAtee
An Irish surname usually understood as a form of Mac an tSaoi, meaning “son of the scholar” or “son of the wise one.”
The #7,061 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 65,150 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McAtee is generally taken from Irish Mac an tSaoi, literally “son of the scholar” or “son of the wise man.” The Gaelic word saoi can mean a learned person, expert, or wise man, so the name has an honorable sense rather than a descriptive one in the modern English style. Older spellings and anglicized forms vary widely because Irish names were recorded in many different ways by English-speaking clerks.
History
The name is found in Irish records in several anglicized shapes, including MacAtee, MacEntee, MacKenty, and related forms. It is especially associated with Ireland and the Irish diaspora, where spelling often settled into different local versions after migration. The source material here treats McAtee as part of a cluster of surnames descending from the same Gaelic original.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Gaelic element saoi is still used in Irish to mean a learned or wise person, which gives the surname a notably respectful meaning.
From the historical record
“Tavey. mAC An cSaoi, MacAtee, Mac Entee, Maclntee, MacKenty, MacKinty, MacGinty, etc. 63”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames