MacAvoy

MacAvoy is a surname of Gaelic origin, commonly treated as a variant of the more widely used McAvoy surname. It arises from the Gaelic prefix Mac- meaning “son of” attached to a personal name, with spelling variations that reflect Anglicization, regional orthography, and record-keeping practices over time.

Etymology and forms: The second element of MacAvoy is not fixed in all cases, leading to multiple spellings in historical documents. In addition to MacAvoy, the name is encountered as McAvoy and other closely related forms. Such variants commonly arose as Gaelic names were transcribed by English-speaking clerks and emigrants moved between regions.

Geographic distribution: The surname is most frequently found in Ireland and in populations with Irish ancestry. It is also present in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries with Irish diaspora communities, with concentrations corresponding to historical waves of migration.

See also: McAvoy (surname).