Mackey Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

MacKey Origin:

Ireland, England, Scotland

Origins of MacKey:

The surname of MacKey is a patronymic surname that comes from the Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname of “Mac Aodh.” The personal given name of “Aodh” can be translated to mean “fire” and was the name of a pagan god. The literal translation of the surname of MacKey is that it means “son of fire.”

Variations:

More common variations are: MacKay, Mackie, McKay, Mackeiy, Mackeyy, Mackeye, McKey, Makey, Macke, Macky, Kee, Key

Ireland:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of MacKey was found in the country of Ireland. One person, who was named as one Cucail Mac Aedha was mentioned in the document known as the Manx Names, which was by Moore, in the year of 1198. This document, Manx Names was written under the reign of one Cathal Craobhdhearg, High King of Ireland, who was known throughout the ages, and was commonly referred to as “Red Hand.” Cathal Craobhdhearg, High King of Ireland, ruled from the year of 1198 to the year 1224. Other mentions of the surname of MacKey within the country of Ireland include one Sir Patrick MacKee, who was a servitor in the County Donegal, at the Plantation of Ulster. Another mention of the surname of MacKey within the country of Ireland includes one Robery Kee and Anne Jane Wilson who were wed in Raphoe, which is located in the County Donegal in the year 1847.

Scotland:

In the country of Scotland, there is a small population of people who are known by the surname of MacKey. The areas within the country of Scotland where there is a large population of those who bear the surname of MacKey can be found in Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Caithness, Inverness-shire, Aberdeenshire, and in the County of Perthshire. After leaving Scotland, it was popular for those who bore the surname of MacKey to resettle in the country of Ireland. From the country of Ireland, the original Scottish settlers who bore the surname of MacKey migrated to the United States of America during the period of time known as the European Migration. Mentions of the surname of MacKey within the country of Scotland include one George McKe who was named in the Register of the Privy Seal in the year of 1538.

England:

There is a sizeable population of people who bear the surname of MacKey within the country of England. Those who are known to bear the surname of MacKey within the country of England can be found in high concentrations in the areas of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire counties. The areas in and around the city of London also boast a sizeable population of people who are known by the surname of MacKey.

United States of America:

Throughout the 17th Century, European citizens began to migrate to the United States in search of a better life. This movement of people was known as the European Migration. The first person to arrive in the United States who bore the surname of MacKey was one John MacKey, who settled in the city of Boston in the year of 1651. Those who bear the MacKey surname can be found in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Mackey: United States 35,427; England 2,592; Canada 2,396; Australia 1,770; The Bahamas 1,486; Ireland 1,338; Northern Ireland 620, New Zealand 589; Brazil 445; Germany 336

Notable People:

Nathaniel MacKey who is a novelist, editor, literary critic, and poet from America who was awarded the National Book Award in the subject of poetry in the year 2006 as well as the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize in the year 2014

Levi Augustus MacKey (1819-1889) who was a politician and also a Pennsylvania member of the United States House of Representatives from the year 1875 to the year 1879

Malcolm Malik MacKey who was born in the year 1970 and who was a basketball player from America who is now retired

Kyle Erickson MacKey who was born in the year 1962 and who was a football player from America who played the position of quarterback from the year 11984 to the year 1994

John MacKey who was born in the year 1953 and who is a businessman from America who is currently one of the CEOs of Whole Foods Market

John MacKey (1941-2011) who was a football player from America who played the position of tight end and was subsequently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the year 1992

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

(confirmed to Sir James William Mackey, Knt., of Clonsilla House, co. Dublin, Lord Mayor of Dublin 1873). Motto—Manu forti. Az. on a chev. or, betw. in chief two bears’ heads couped ar. muzzled gu. and in base a civic crown of the second, a roebuck’s head erased betw. two hands couped at the wrist, each holding a dagger all ppr. Crest—Out, of a mural crown a dexter hand grasping a dagger all ppr.