McCays

McCays is primarily a surname, used to refer to people who bear the family name McCay. It is a variant spelling of the more common MacKay, reflecting regional and historical spelling differences that arose as families moved between Scotland, Ireland, and English-speaking countries.

The name is of Scottish origin, associated with families that settled in Scotland and later reached Ulster and North America through migration and settlement. Today, individuals with the surname McCay are found in various countries, especially where Scottish and Ulster-Scots descendants have established communities.

Notable individuals with the surname include Winsor McCay (1869–1934), an American cartoonist and animator renowned for the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland and for pioneering early animation. His work has had a lasting influence on the development of Western comics and animation.

In addition to Winsor McCay, other people with the surname appear in historical and genealogical records, including professionals across diverse fields. The plural form McCays may be encountered in discussions of families, genealogies, or local histories rather than as a separate geographic or organizational entity.

See also MacKay and McKay, which are closely related spellings of the same ancestral name, and may offer additional context or notable individuals linked to the broader family lineage.