MacFadden Surname

332,527th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 1,112 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Ireland

MacFadden Surname Definition:

MACFADYEN, Macfadin, Macfadion, Macfadwyn, Macfadyran, Macfadyon, Macfadzan, Macfadzean, Macfadzeon, Macfadzein, Macfayden, Macfeyden, MACPHADEN, and MACPHAIDEN: All from G, Macphaidein (or Macphaidin), 'son of Paidean or little Pat.' and so = Patonson.

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MacFadden Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States6211:583,67047,738
Canada2541:145,06114,859
Ireland781:60,3714,039
Brazil441:4,865,326126,089
Dominican Republic311:336,54611,471
England291:1,921,31276,208
Scotland261:205,91610,908
Germany91:8,945,051266,530
Switzerland51:1,642,58387,307
Singapore41:1,376,92628,409
South Africa31:18,059,235248,362
Australia21:13,497,850222,987
Norway11:5,142,286129,201
Italy11:61,156,688199,583
Sudan11:37,510,19514,259
Swaziland11:1,298,1991,718
Thailand11:70,638,3451,175,915
Northern Ireland11:1,845,03620,648
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland21:2,214,93333,683
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States81:6,277,336262,771

MacFadden Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

MACFADYEN, Macfadin, Macfadion, Macfadwyn, Macfadyran, Macfadyon, Macfadzan, Macfadzean, Macfadzeon, Macfadzein, Macfayden, Macfeyden, MACPHADEN, and MACPHAIDEN: All from G, Macphaidein (or Macphaidin), 'son of Paidean or little Pat.' and so = Patonson. The late Rev. J. G. Campbell says: "MacFadyens were said to have been the first possessors of Lochbuie, and when expelled they became a race of wandering artificers, Sliochd nan or-cheard-the race of goldsmiths in Mull." (Clan traditions and popular tales, p. 41). The earliest record of the name is in 1304 when Malcolm Macpadene appears as a charter witness at Achichendone in Kintyre (RMS., II, 3136). Conghan MacPaden petitioned for the archdeaconry of Argyll in 1390 (Pap. Pet., I, p. 575). John McFadyeane is in record in Edinburgh in 1457 (ER., VI, p. 306), and in 1473 a composition was made with Donald M'Fadzeane in Kirkcudbright (ALHT., I, p. 8). Hugh McFattin was tenant of Mydcoule, Petty, in 1499 (ER., XI, p. 444), and Donald Macfadzane, precentor in Lismore in 1507, appears again in 1511 as 'Sir' Donald McFaden (Poltalloch Writs, p. 183). He was probably the Sir Donald McFadzeane, chaplain of Tibbirmore in the diocese of Sodor, whose death is recorded in 1540 (RSS., II, 3397). Another M'Faden is in record in Iona in 1532. Finlaius M'Fedden, canon of the Isles, was witness to a charter of Muckairn also in 1532 (Cawdor, p. 158), and William M'Fadzean in Dellongfurd witnessed an instrument of sasine at Blairquhan, Ayrshire, in 1618 (Laing, 1794). William Makfadieane in Beirwell was prosecuted for shooting game in 1620 (RPC., XII, p. 391), and another William Makfadzane in Lyneburne was retoured heir of William Makfadzane in 1643 (Retours, Dumfries, 183). The 20s. land of Balmacfadzeane in Wigtownshire is mentioned in 1628 (Retours, Wigtown, 70), and John McPhaden was a witness at Leppenmor, 1641 (Poltalloch Writs, p. 73). Duncan M'Phadden and Lachlan M'Phadden appear in Uleyeiffe in 1672 (HP., II, p. 208), Malcolm M'Faden and Donald M'Phaden both in Auchadabeg were declared rebels in 1675 (HP., I), Janet M'Faggaine or M'Fadzeon was banished for refusing the Test in 1684 (RPC., 3. ser. X, p. 377,590), and Finlay McPhadan and Angus McPhaiden were tenant farmers in Islay in 1733. They occur again in 1741 as Angus and Finlay McFadzen (Bit. Islay, p. 545,549, 556). Dugald McPhaden was a witness in Islay in 1737 and Katherine McPhyden a witness in 1769 (ibid., p. 430,472). The M'Fadzeans of Over Killelago are mentioned in 1681 (Retours, Dumfries, 305), and Macfadyens are still numerous in Mull and Tiree. An absurd explanation of the name is Mac Fad Ian, 'son of long (or tall) John!' Galloway forms of the name in 1684 are McFaddan, McFydeane, McKfadyean, McPhaddion, and McPhadzen (Parish); M'Fedden.

Blind Harry, in the seventh book of his Schir William Wallace, records the doings of a Macfadzan, leader of a band of Irish mercenaries in the service of the king of England. Nothing is known of him in Scottish record outside of the pages of Harry. He was eventually slain by Gylmichall, an attendant of Duncan of Lorn, but local tradition says he was hanged from a projecting tree on the summit of Creag-an-uni (Creag an aonaidh). The Macfadyens, whether they deserved it or not, had a reputation for parsimony, as in the following bitter little satire current in Mull, Tiree, and Islay (SGS., I, p. 80):

MacPhaidein na circe

Am baile na h-airce:

Ged dh' fhan e r'a bruithe,

Cha d' fhan e r'a h-ithe —Stolen from Fore bears

air eagal a paigheadh."

(Macfadyen of the hen, in the homestead of penury: though he stayed till she was boiled, he stayed not till she was eaten-for fear of paying for her).

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

Mac Pháidín An Ulster name, of both Irish and Scottish origin. Without the prefix Mac it is numerous in Mayo. IF 31; MIF 256; Map Don

A Guide to Irish Names (1964) by Edward MacLysaght

(Celtic-Latin) Son of Little Paddy or Patrick [Irish Mac Phaidin] See Patrick.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(Scottish, Irish) The son of little Pad, a pet form of Patrick (noble or patrician).

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

From Mac Paidin, ‘Paidin’s or Little Patrick's Son also Faden.

Manx Names (1890) by Arthur William Moore

MacFadden Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name MacFadden Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name MacFadden is found in The United States more than any other country or territory. It can occur as a variant:. For other potential spellings of this name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name MacFadden? popularity and diffusion

The last name is the 332,527th most numerous surname on a global scale, held by around 1 in 6,553,548 people. It is primarily found in The Americas, where 82 percent of MacFadden live; 75 percent live in North America and 75 percent live in Anglo-North America.

This last name is most widespread in The United States, where it is carried by 621 people, or 1 in 583,670. In The United States MacFadden is primarily concentrated in: New York, where 15 percent reside, Washington, where 9 percent reside and Florida, where 8 percent reside. Excluding The United States MacFadden exists in 17 countries. It also occurs in Canada, where 23 percent reside and Ireland, where 7 percent reside.

MacFadden Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of MacFadden has changed through the years. In The United States the share of the population with the last name expanded 7,763 percent between 1880 and 2014 and in Ireland it expanded 3,900 percent between 1901 and 2014.

MacFadden Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those carrying the last name is predominantly Anglican (100%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the MacFadden last name are 9.83% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 56.6% registered to vote for the political party.

The amount MacFadden earn in different countries varies notably. In United States they earn 7.58% more than the national average, earning $46,419 USD per year and in Canada they earn 10.51% less than the national average, earning $44,460 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
McFadden9446,976/
MacFaden9448/
MacFayden89181/
MacFaddin8936/
Makfadden893/
MacFfaden892/
Macfaddem891/
MacKfaden890/
MacPhadden846/
McFaddin821,125/
McFayden82774/
Macfadem8211/
MacFadyn822/
MacFadin820/
MacPhaden7822/
Macfaydyn781/
MacPhaiden7410/
MacPhaidin6315/
MacPhaidín631/
MacPháidín531/

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to MacFadden
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis