Conahey Name

[angcon1975]

i am trying to find info on my Son's last name.
we did DNA and it came that he has English Wales Scotland and Ireland for his Ethnicity.
i would like to know where the name came from.
i know it can have Mc or Mac in from of it there are alot of different spelling like the Actor Mathew McConaughey.
So where did the name come from
Thanks everyone.
Angela Conahey

[femuse]

possible modified from

Connaway
Conaway

2 names found in England

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Mc = Irish

Mac = Socttish

[elwynsoutter]

MacLysaght’s “The Surnames of Ireland” says the name is: “of a branch of the Scottish clan Robertson numerous in east Ulster. Ballymaconaghy is near Newry.”

Incidentally I have to disagree with femuse that Mc = Irish and Mac = Scottish. That’s a common misconception. Both are used in both countries (as in MacLysaght for example). Originally it was M’ in both Scotland and Ireland eg M’Lysaght. Gradually it became Mac/Mc but which a family used was largely a matter of whim and often changed, and equally often the prefix was dropped altogether.