English
The surname Magee is of Irish and Scottish origin. In Gaelic the name is Mag Aodha, son of Aodh or Hugh. The personal name Hugh is of Old French origin, introduced into England at the time of the Conquest. It is composed of the Germanic element 'hug', heart, mind, spirit. It was a popular given name among the Normans in England, partly due to the fame of St.Hugh of Lincoln ( 1140-1200 ), who was born in Burgundy and who established the first Carthusian monastery in England. In Scotland and Ireland this name has been widely used as an equivalent of the Celtic 'Aodh', fire ( originally the name of a pagan god ). It is believed that the Northern Irish McGees are of Scottish extraction, having come to Ireland during the plantation of Ulster in the early seventeenth century. There certainly is a numerous Scottish family so called, who are akin to the MacDonnells and claim descent from Colla Uais and so an Irish origin. There are Gaelic Irish MacGees also. The name is found in Scotland as MacGee, MacGhee and MacGhie. The name dates as far back as the twelfth century were a Gilmighel McGethe is recorded in historical archives. The name has evovled through Mac Ethe, Macge, Mageth and Macgye until the surname we have today was reached. The name was brought to America by Scottish and Irish immigrants. One of the first fore fathers to bring this name to America is that of a John McGee, who emigrated to America aboard the barque Jenny on the 31st of October 1766; he settled in Boston, Massachusetts. This name is the three-hundredth and seventy-third most numerous surname in America.