McEvoy / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and McEvoy / Family History

McEvoy / Family History

The ancient origin of the name McEvoy was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name McEvoy include McAvoy, McElwee, McGilloway and McVeagh. These families were one of the 'seven septs of Leix', the leading members of which were transplanted to County Kerry in 1609. This sept was called Mac Rhiodhbhuidhe in Gaelic which is pronounced 'mac-ee-vwee', giving the approximate phonetic anglicizations of McEvoy and McAvoy. This sept in early times settled in Leix and became Lords of the territory now comprising the parishes of Mountrath and Raheen in County Westmeath. They were also called Muintir Fhiodhbhuidhe, normally anglicized MacElwee and MacGelloway, names now well known in Counties Donegal and Derry. This Gaelic name is shortened in the spoken language to Mac Abhuidhe, again giving the forms McAvoy and McEvoy.The McEvoy family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including McEvoy descendants.