McCue
An Irish and Scottish surname that usually means "son of Hugh," though some families may have different local origins.
The #4,309 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,424 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McCue is generally understood as an Anglicized form of Gaelic MacHugh, meaning "son of Hugh." In that development, the Gaelic surname Mac Uidhir or related forms could also influence spellings in some local traditions, but the strongest and most common explanation is descent from a man named Hugh. The short form Cue reflects the same Gaelic personal-name base and is the source of the modern surname form.
History
The name is found in Irish and Scottish records, and 19th-century surname writers often grouped McCue with other Mc- names that have been shortened from Gaelic personal names. In some districts, members of the same family could appear under different but related spellings, which is why McCue is sometimes discussed alongside Cue and MacHugh. The surname is now established in Ireland, Scotland, and the wider diaspora, especially in North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
One early source notes a family where some members signed as Cue, others as Hue, and others as MacCue—showing how fluid surname spelling could be in the 19th century.
From the historical record
“McCreedy. See Read McCrobie. Robert’s son McCue. See McHugh McElgunn. See Gunn McEnery. See Hendry McFadden. From the Irish Mac- Paidin ; a p.n. (the son of little Patrick)”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)