McCoy is a surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Aodha, which means "son of Aodh". Aodh was a popular Irish god of fire and light, and his name means "fire" or "noble". The McCoy clan originally came from the Isle of Arran in Scotland, but they later migrated to Ulster in Northern Ireland.
The surname McCoy has been prominent throughout history. In the 14th century, there was a notable Scottish knight named Sir Thomas McCoy who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. During the Irish Potato Famine of the 19th century, many McCoys emigrated to North America and Australia, where they continue to be found today.
Today, McCoy is still a common surname in Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the world with significant Scottish-Irish populations. It is often anglicized to McCoy or MacCoy, but it retains its original Gaelic meaning and heritage.
In summary, McCoy is a strong and ancient Scottish surname with Irish roots, derived from the Gaelic Mac Aodha. Its meaning, "son of fire," reflects the power and strength associated with the clan throughout history. Despite its historic importance, there are no holidays or specific personality traits directly linked to the name McCoy itself.
Based on the statistics provided, the name McCoy has seen a significant increase in popularity over time in the United States.
From the early 1900s to the mid-1960s, the number of births with the name McCoy fluctuated between a low of 5 and a high of 28. However, starting from the late 1960s, there was a notable increase in the popularity of the name.
In the year 2000, there were 26 births with the name McCoy, marking a significant jump from previous years. This trend continued to rise steadily over time, reaching a peak of 292 births in 2021 and 281 births in 2022.
Overall, since the year 2000, there have been a total of approximately 4000 births with the name McCoy in the United States. This indicates that while once relatively uncommon, the name McCoy has become increasingly popular over time and is now one of the more commonly chosen names for newborns in the country.
This information highlights how trends in naming can change significantly over decades, reflecting shifting cultural preferences and influences.