Find out how popular the first name Mackay has been for the last 33 years (from 1991 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Mackay by gender

Based on the last 33 years of data, Mackay is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 93% of people named Mackay being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Mackay.

The history of the first name Mackay

The name Mackay is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, which means "son of fire" or "son of Hugh." It is believed to have emerged in the 12th century in the Western Isles of Scotland, particularly on the Isle of Islay.

The name is thought to be associated with the Clan Mackay, a Highland Scottish clan whose ancestral lands were located in the far north of the Scottish mainland, in the counties of Caithness and Sutherland. The Clan Mackay played a significant role in the history of Scotland, with members participating in various battles and conflicts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mackay can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle that mentions a man named Mackay in the year 1211. The name also appears in various Scottish historical records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mackay. One of the most famous was Æneas Mackay (1635-1696), a Scottish soldier and military commander who served in the Scottish and Russian armies. He is particularly renowned for his role in the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, where he fought against the Jacobite forces.

Another prominent figure was Robert Mackay (1840-1916), a Scottish-American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th Governor of Virginia from 1894 to 1898. He played a crucial role in the development of the state's infrastructure and education system.

John Mackay (1805-1889) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist who made a fortune in the Comstock Lode silver mines in Nevada. He was instrumental in the development of the mining industry in the American West and donated generously to various educational and charitable causes.

Clarence Mackay (1874-1938) was an American businessman, financier, and philanthropist. He inherited a significant fortune from his father, John Mackay, and was actively involved in various business ventures, including the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company and the Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company.

Lastly, Charles Mackay (1814-1889) was a Scottish poet, journalist, and author best known for his work "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds," which explored the psychology of crowd behavior and the phenomena of financial bubbles and economic crises.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Mackay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mackay, please contact us.

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