MCEVOY Family History

Recorded as McAvey, McAviy, McAvoy, McEvay, McEvoy, McEabuoy, MacGilloway, McElwee, MacVeagh and others, this is an Irish surname of great antiquity. It derives from the pre 10th century Gaelic Mac giolla Bhuidhe meaning the son of the follower of the fair haired one! The faired haired one being almost certainly a Norseman, is clear evidence that this was a clan which if not Norse in origin, were supporters of the Norse -Vikings during their occupation of Ireland in the 9th to 11th centuries. However it is also claimed that at least some nameholders had a different origin arising from Mac Fhiodhbhuidhe.