McDade History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Ireland 


The Irish McDade surname is derived from the Irish Gaelic Patronymic name "Mac Daibheid," which means son of David.

Early Origins of the McDade family

The surname McDade was first found in on the Inishowen peninsula, in County Donegal, where a sept of this name claim David O'Doherty (d. 1208,) a chief of Cenel Eoghain, as their ancestor.

Early History of the McDade family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McDade research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McDade History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDade Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname McDade that are preserved in archival documents are MacDaid, MacDavid, McDavid, Dade, MacDade, Devitt, MacDevitt, MacDavitt and many more.

Early Notables of the McDade family

More information is included under the topic Early McDade Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDade Ranking

In the United States, the name McDade is the 4,489th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1


McDade migration to the United States +

A great mass of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century, seeking relief from various forms of social, religious, and economic discrimination. This Irish exodus was primarily to North America. If the migrants survived the long ocean journey, many unfortunately would find more discrimination in the colonies of British North America and the fledgling United States of America. These newly arrived Irish were, however, wanted as a cheap source of labor for the many large agricultural and industrial projects that were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the western world. Early immigration and passenger lists indicate many people bearing the McDade name:

McDade Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

McDade migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McDade Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

McDade migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McDade Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

McDade migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McDade Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name McDade (post 1700) +
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