McNew
An Anglicized Irish/Scottish surname, likely meaning “son of New” or “son of the newcomer.”
The #7,714 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 71,735 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McNew is generally treated as an Anglicized form of a Gaelic patronymic built on Mac/Mc, meaning “son of,” plus a byname or personal name rendered in English as New. In some cases, the second element may reflect a nickname meaning “new” or “newcomer,” rather than a long-established hereditary given name. Because the name is short and Anglicized, the exact Gaelic source can vary by family line.
History
The surname is found in English-speaking records largely in North America, especially among families of Irish or Scottish descent. As with many Mc/Mac surnames, spellings were often simplified after migration, which can make McNew a later written form rather than the original one used in earlier records. It is comparatively uncommon and may represent multiple unrelated family branches.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The prefix Mc/Mac is one of the clearest clues to a Gaelic surname, but the family name after it was often reshaped in English records, which is why short forms like McNew can hide a more complex earlier history.