McCoy

McCoy is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, meaning "son of Aodh." Aodh is an early given name related to Hugh. The form McCoy emerged when Gaelic names were Anglicized during Ireland's and Britain's historical processes and later spread to North America through immigration.

Historically, the name appears in Ulster and western Scotland and became established in the United States through Irish and Scottish settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today it is a relatively common surname in the United States and retains presence in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with regional pockets in Appalachia and the Midwest.

Notable people and characters include LeSean McCoy, an American football running back who played in the NFL; and Leonard H. McCoy, the fictional Star Trek character known as Dr. Bones. The McCoy name is also linked to the Hatfield–McCoy feud, a late 19th-century conflict between families in the Appalachian region.

In addition to a surname, McCoy appears in other uses. There are places in the United States named McCoy, and McCoy's is a well-known brand of potato chips in the United Kingdom.