McGee
An Irish surname usually understood as meaning “son of Hugh,” with several related spellings in Ireland and Scotland.
The #439 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 4,142 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McGee is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Aodha, meaning “son of Aodh.” Aodh is a very old Gaelic personal name usually glossed as “Hugh,” though its deeper sense is often linked with “fire” or “fiery.” The surname appears in several spellings, including Magee, MacGee, and MacGhie, reflecting different attempts to write Gaelic sounds in English.
History
The name is well established in Ulster, especially in Antrim, Armagh, and Down, and the historical sources also connect it with Scottish Gaelic forms. In Irish and Scottish records it has long been written in multiple variants, and McGee became a common fixed spelling in English-language use. The surname spread widely through emigration to North America, where it remains the standard form for many families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Historical surname lists from the late 19th century explicitly group McGee with Magee in the Ulster counties of Antrim, Armagh, and Down.
From the historical record
“niA5 Ao-DA, niA5 -^5^01-6, Magee, MacGee, MacGhee, MacGhie, Ghee, Gee. triAj^ Aonjuip, rriAS -Aor.stjfA, Maguiness, Maguinness, Ma-”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames