Celebrity Names: The Mcs and the Macs

McGregor

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• Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective star Matthew McConaughey has a mixed heritage that includes both Irish and Scottish roots. His surname actually relates back to the personal name Robert, and has distinguished early royal connections." >
• Elle Macpherson was born Eleanor Nancy Gow; Macpherson was her stepfather’s surname. The most famous/infamous bearer of the name was Aimee Semple McPherson, controversial California evangelist. In Scottish Gaelic the name means ‘son of the parson.’" >
• Ewan McGregor bears a name that was once banned in Scotland due to the unruly behavior of the ancient Clan MacGregor. Kids might associate the name with mean Mr. McGregor in Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, who was most likely named for her landlord at the time, Atholl McGregor." >
• Andie MacDowell (born Rosalie Anderson MacDowell) is of Scottish descent. MacDowell, a version of McDugall, means ‘son of the dark foreigner’ and is also associated with the actors Malcolm McDowell and Roddy McDowall." >
• Dylan McDermott, née Mark Anthony McDermott, got his big break on the series The Practice. McDermott means—surprise, surprise!—‘son of Dermot’ and another contemporary bearer is actor Dean McD. of Tori & Dean." >
• Rachel McAdams was born in London, Ontario, Canada. This Scottish surname was more often the singular McAdam. As a first name, Adam was introduced to England and Scotland by returning Crusaders, who began giving their children biblical names." >
• Eric McCormack is best known for his leading role as Will Truman in Will & Grace. A patronymic with an obvious ‘son of’ meaning and several different spellings, eminent McCormack and McCormicks have included the inventor of the McCormick reaper, a great Irish-American opera singer, a prominent publishing family, and contemporary actress Mary." >
• Ian McKellen is of Scots-Irish descent. The meaning of the name McKellen is the not-so-obvious ‘son of Allen.’" >
• Mike & Molly star Melissa McCarthy is part of a “big Irish-Catholic family,” which includes cousin Jenny McCarthy of The View. McCarthy is the most common of the ancient Irish names, as evidenced by its legion of noted bearers, including writers Cormac and Mary and Senator Eugene, though it was somewhat tainted during the era of “McCarthyism,” via witch-hunting Senator Joseph." >
• Paul and his fashion designer daughter Stella bear the Scottish form of the name McCarthy, which is less common and thereby more distinctive than its Irish version." >
• Elizabeth McGovern has had a striking career renaissance via her mother role as Cora, Duchess of Grantham on Downton Abbey. Her very old Gaelic surname derives from the Irish word meaning ‘summer.’ Most notable McGovern is liberal Senator George, who ran for president in 1972." >
• Seth MacFarlane, the creator of TV animated show Family Guy and the movie Ted, was the 2013 Oscar host. Macfarlane is an ancient Scottish surname, also recorded in Ireland. It’s related to the name Bartholomew." >
• Oscar-winning Shirley MacLaine—born Shirley McLean Beaty—has gone from singing and dancing with Sinatra to, yes, a mother role on Downton Abbey. MacLaine/McLean are Angicized forms of a patronymic meaning “son of a servant of St. John.”" >
• Tim McGraw—born Samuel Timothy—is a bestselling country singer-songwriter, and son of pro pitcher ‘Tug’ McGraw. McGraw is a common Irish surname whose high-profile bearers include Dr. Phil and actress Ali. It means ‘son of good fortune.’" >