Find out how popular the first name Mc has been for the last 17 years (from 1989 to 2005) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Mc by gender

Based on the last 17 years of data, Mc is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 77% of people named Mc being female.

For the most recent data in 2005, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Mc.

The history of the first name Mc

The name Mc has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic languages. It is derived from the Gaelic word "mac," which means "son" or "son of." This name prefix originated in the early medieval period, around the 5th or 6th century AD, and was used to denote patrilineal descent.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Mc can be found in the ancient Irish text known as the Annals of Ulster, which dates back to the 15th century. The text mentions individuals with names such as "MacDomhnaill" and "MacCoisdealbhaigh," which later became anglicized as McDonald and Cosgrove, respectively.

In the realm of historical figures, several notable individuals bore the name Mc. Mc Bethad mac Findláich (1005-1057) was the King of Scotland from 1040 to 1057. Mc Lochlainn (1080-1121) was an Irish king who ruled over the northern part of Ireland from 1094 to 1121. Mc Dougall (1180-1244) was a Scottish warrior and chieftain who played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

During the Middle Ages, the name Mc became widespread among Scottish and Irish families, particularly those with ties to clans or noble lineages. One famous bearer of the name was Mc Gregor (1570-1623), a Scottish clan chief and outlaw known for his defiance against the King of Scotland.

In the realm of literature, Mc appears in the works of renowned authors. For instance, the character Mc Duff plays a crucial role in William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," which was written around 1606.

Throughout history, the name Mc has been borne by various influential individuals, including Mc Cauley (1800-1859), an Irish historian and politician, and Mc Carthy (1888-1957), an American politician and Senator who became known for his controversial investigations into alleged communist infiltration during the Cold War era.

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 Mc was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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