A History of Surnames

Pinterest Origin: Gaelic, Latin Meaning: McFadden is a Scottish and Irish surname, a patrynomic surname meaning "son of little Patrick" from Gaelic Mac/Mc meaning "son of" and Fadden , from Irish  Pháidín and Scottish Phaid(e)in, a diminutive of given name Patrick which comes from Latin Patricus meaning “patrician” used to refer to the elite of the Roman aristocracy descended from the founding fathers of Rome, derived from Latin  patres  (father). It has since attained the idea of “nobleman, noble”. Variants : Mcfadden  MacPhaden  McFfaden  MacFadyen (Scottish) MacFadden  MacFadan  McFaddin Mac Phaidin  McFadin (Scottish) MacFadwyn  MacFadyean  MacFadzean  MacFadyon  McFayden  Fadden  Fadyen  Faden  Fadin  Fadwyn 

Pinterest Origin: Gaelic Meaning: McShane is an Irish and Scottish surname, the Anglicised form of Gaelic  Mac Seáin meaning "son of Sean" or "son of Shane", both being the Irish form of given name  John meaning "Yahweh is gracious". It was a patrynomic surname referring to the son of a man with that name.

Pinterest Origin: Irish Meaning: Shaughnessy comes from  O'Shaughnessy  meaning "descendant of Shaughnessy", a name of uncertain meaning though I've seen it as possibly being related to Gaelic  seachnach meaning "elusive". Variants : O'Shaughnessy

Pinterest Origin: Gaelic Meaning: Cahill is a Gaelic surname, the Anglicized form of O Cathail meaning "descendant of Cathal", Cathal a given name meaning "battle".

Pinterest Origin: Irish Meaning: an Irish surname meaning "fair snow". Finnerty is the Anglicized form of O Fionnachta meaning "descendant of Fionnachta", Fionnachta composed of Celtic elements Fionn meaning "fair" and Sneachta meaning "snow". It was used to refer to someone who was very fair in complexion or hair color. Variants : O Fionnachta (Irish) O'Finaghty  Finaghty  O'Fenaghty  Fenaughty  Finaughity  Feenaghty  Fennghty  Fennaughty  Finerty  Finnearty  O'Finnearty  Finnarty  Fenerty  Fenety  Fenarty  Finnesty