McCoy is a common

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

of Scottish origin in the lands of Kintyre and then Irish ( Gallowglass) origin. It is an

Anglicisation Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

of its Irish form Mac Aodha, meaning son of Aodh (a name of a deity in Irish mythology and an Irish word for " fire"). It is particularly found in Ulster (Counties Antrim,

Armagh Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...

and

Monaghan Monaghan ( ; ) is the county town of County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It also provides the name of its Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish and Monaghan (barony), barony. The population of the town as of the 2016 census was 7 ...

) where many settled around the 13th century, having been Gallowglasses, and also in counties Limerick and

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

. Aoidh and Mac Aoigh were sometimes Anglicised as Hugh and McHugh.

People

*One of the families in the 19th century Hatfield-McCoy feud in Kentucky/West Virginia * Al McCoy (announcer), American sports broadcaster * Al McCoy (boxer) (1894–1966), middleweight champion boxer *

Alban McCoy Alban McCoy OFM Conv is a British Catholic writer and priest. McCoy is the author of ''An Intelligent Person's Guide to Christian Ethics'' (2004) and ''An Intelligent Person's Guide to Catholicism'' (2005, new ed. 2008). Since 1995, he has bee ...

(born 1951), British priest and writer, former Catholic Chaplain of Cambridge University * Alfred McCoy (American football) (1899–1990), American college sports coach *

Alfred W. McCoy Alfred "Al" William McCoy (born June 8, 1945) is an American historian and educator. He is the Fred Harvey Harrington Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...

drug trade * Alice McCoy (politician), member of the South Dakota House of Representatives. * Andy McCoy, Finnish guitarist of Hanoi Rocks *

Barry M. McCoy Barry Malcolm McCoy (born 14 December 1940 in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American physicist, known for his contributions to classical statistical mechanics, integrable models and conformal field theories. He earned a B.Sc. from California Instit ...

, American physicist * Bob McCoy (1934–2016), American basketball player and coach * Brian McCoy (1943–1975), Irish musician, trumpet player * Carl McCoy, musician * Charlie McCoy (born 1941), American musician * Clyde McCoy (1903–1990), American jazz trumpeter * Colt McCoy (born 1986), American football quarterback * Dave McCoy (1915–2020), American businessman and skier *

Elaine McCoy Elaine Jean McCoy (March 7, 1946December 29, 2020) was a Canadian politician from Alberta. She was a member of the Senate of Canada. In 2005, McCoy was appointed to the Senate. She designated herself a member of the Progressive Conservative ...

(born 1946), Canadian senator *

Elijah McCoy Elijah J. McCoy (May 2, 1844 – October 10, 1929) was a Canadian-American engineer of African-American descent who invented lubrication systems for steam engines. Born free on the Ontario shore of Lake Erie to parents who fled enslavem ...

(1844–1929), inventor, automatic machinery lubricator, lawn sprinkler, cited as the inspiration for the phrase "The Real McCoy" *

Erik McCoy Erik McCoy (born August 27, 1997) is an American football center for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M. Early years McCoy attended Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas. He comm ...

(born 1997), American football player * Ernie McCoy (athletic director) (1904–1980), American collegiate athletic director *

Ernie McCoy (racing driver) Ernest "Ernie McCoy" Musser (February 19, 1921 in Reading, Pennsylvania – February 4, 2001) was an American racecar driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing ...

, Formula One driver *

Ethel Bergstresser McCoy Ethel Bergstresser (Stewart) McCoy (June 20, 1893 – August 17, 1980), of New York City, was a philatelist who created a number of stamp collections, and was active within the philatelic community. She was the daughter of Charles Bergstresse ...

(1893–1980), of New York City *

Freddie McCoy Freddie McCoy (November 29, 1932 – September 27, 2009) was an American soul jazz vibraphonist. McCoy started out with Johnny "Hammond" Smith in 1961, and released seven albums for Prestige Records plus one in 1971 for the short-lived Cobbleston ...

(1932-2009), American soul-jazz vibraphonist * Frederick McCoy (1823–1899), British palaeontologist *

Garry McCoy Garry McCoy (born 18 April 1972 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional motorcycle racer. He has won races in the 125 cc and 500 cc World Championships, as well as in the Superbike World Championship. He is ...

(1972–), Australian motorcycle racer *

George McCoy George McCoy is a British writer best known for producing ''McCoy's British Massage Parlour Guide'', a series of guidebooks to establishments and women in Britain that provide sexual services. The books do not include businesses that provide ...

, author of a guide to sexual services in Britain *

Gerald McCoy Gerald Keith McCoy Jr. (born February 25, 1988) is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he earned consensus All-American honors, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ...

, American football player *

Gerry McCoy Gerry McCoy (born 24 December 1960) is a Scottish former footballer, who played as a forward. Career He played for Queen's Park, Heart of Midlothian, Berwick Rangers, Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Dumbarton , Clyde and Albion Rovers. He also p ...

(born 1960), Scottish football player *

Horace McCoy Horace Stanley McCoy (April 14, 1897 – December 15, 1955) was an American writer whose mostly hardboiled stories took place during the Great Depression. His best-known novel is '' They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' (1935), which was made into ...

(1897–1955), American writer *

Jack E. McCoy Jack E. McCoy (May 28, 1929 – December 29, 2014) was a politician and labor activist. Born in Ottumwa, Iowa, he worked at the Ottumwa meatpacking plant and served as an officer in the local United Packing House Workers Local 1. He served ...

(1929-2014), American politician * Jake McCoy (1942-2021), American hockey player *

Janet J. McCoy Janet J. McCoy (July 31, 1916 – August 4, 1995) was an American politician and businesswoman. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, McCoy went to Wayne State University. During World War II, McCoy served in the Women's Army Corps as one of the first o ...

, American administrator and politician *

Jason McCoy Jason McCoy (born Jason Dwight Campsall on August 27, 1970) is a Canadian country singer-songwriter. He has won the 2001 Male Vocalist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards, 3 SOCAN Song of the Year awards, 19 CCMA nominations and ...

(1970–), Canadian singer/songwriter * Jason L. McCoy (1971– ), Attorney, Mayor of the Town of Vernon, Connecticut Politician * Jelani McCoy (born 1977), American basketball player *

Jeremy McCoy Jeremy McCoy (born January 19, 1978) is an American bass guitar player, known for playing on the road and in the studio with several artists around the world. Beginning career Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Jeremy spent his childhood and youth i ...

, (1963– ), American-Canadian double bassist with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra * Joseph McCoy, 19th-century cattle baron * Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950), American musician * Kellen McCoy (1987–), American basketball player and coach *

Kevin McCoy (artist) Jennifer and Kevin McCoy are a Brooklyn, New York-based married couple who make art together, and still continue to make projects together. They work with interactive media, film, performance and installation to explore personal experience in rela ...

(1967–), American artist * Kevin McCoy (rector), rector of the

Pontifical North American College The Pontifical North American College (NAC) is a Catholic Church, Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy, that prepares seminarians to become priests in the United States and elsewhere. The NAC also provides a residence for Pri ...

. *

Kid McCoy Charles "Kid" McCoy (October 13, 1872 – April 18, 1940), born Norman Selby, was an American boxer and early Hollywood actor. He claimed the vacant world middleweight title when he scored an upset victory over Tommy Ryan by 15th round knockou ...

(1872–1940), boxer (born Norman Selby) *

LeRon McCoy LeRon Terrell McCoy (born January 24, 1982) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football for ...

(1982–), American football wide receiver * LeSean McCoy (1988–), American football running back *

Marvin McCoy Marvin Anthony Michael McCoy (born 2 October 1988) is a semi-professional footballer who plays as a defender for Cray Wanderers. Born in England, he has represented Antigua and Barbuda internationally. Club career Early career Born in Walthams ...

(born 1988), professional footballer * Matt McCoy (actor) (born 1958), American actor *

Matt McCoy (American football) Matthew Garrett McCoy (born October 14, 1982) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State. McCoy has also played fo ...

(1982–), American football linebacker *

Matt McCoy (Iowa politician) Matthew W. "Matt" McCoy (born March 29, 1966) is a member of the Board of Supervisors of Polk County, Iowa, representing the fifth district. A member of the Iowa Democratic Party, McCoy served in the Iowa Senate from 1997-2019 and the Iowa House ...

, member of the Iowa Senate * Mike McCoy (disambiguation), multiple people *

Obed McCoy Obed Christopher McCoy (born 4 January 1997) is a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines professional cricketer who plays for the West Indies cricket team internationally. He made his international debut for the West Indies cricket team in October 2018 ...

(born 1997) West Indies cricket player * Papa Charlie McCoy (1909–1950), American musician *

Paul McCoy 12 Stones is an American hard rock band, formed in 2000 in Mandeville, Louisiana, and currently consisting of Paul McCoy, Eric Weaver and Sean Dunaway. History The band members met in Mandeville, Louisiana, a small city north of New Orleans, ...

, musician *

Randolph McCoy Randolph "Randall" or "Ole Ran'l" McCoy (October 30, 1825 – March 28, 1914) was the patriarch of the McCoy clan involved in the infamous American Hatfield–McCoy feud. He was born the fourth of thirteen children to Daniel McCoy (1790–1885) a ...

of the Hatfield–McCoy feud, also called Randolph "Ole Ran'l" McCoy. *

Richard McCoy, Jr. Richard Floyd McCoy Jr. (December 7, 1942 – November 9, 1974) was an American aircraft hijacker. McCoy hijacked a United Airlines passenger jet for ransom in April 1972. Due to a similar ''modus operandi'', McCoy has been proposed as the pe ...

, airplane hijacker *

Rico McCoy Rico McCoy (born November 6, 1987) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played collegiate football with the Tennessee Volunteers and was considered one of the best linebacker prospects available for the 2010 NFL Dr ...

, American football player *

Robert McCoy Robert McCoy (died June 7, 1849) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Robert McCoy born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (birth date unknown). He served as prothonotary of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was a Brig ...

, member of the United States House of Representatives *

Robert Bruce McCoy Robert Bruce McCoy (September 5, 1867January 5, 1926) was an American lawyer and Army National Guard officer in the early 20th century. He served as a colonel in World War I and is the namesake of Fort McCoy, Wisconsin (formerly Camp McCoy). Bio ...

, United States National Guard officer * Rose Marie McCoy (1922–2015), American songwriter *

Simon McCoy Simon McCoy (born 7 October 1961) is a British journalist and former newsreader on BBC News and Sky News and presenter at GB News. Early life McCoy was born on 7 October 1961 in Hammersmith. He was educated at the independent Sherborne School ...

, British journalist and newsreader * Stephen McCoy (1948–1989), American serial killer *

Steve McCoy Steve McCoy is an American radio personality best known for his morning show with Vikki Locke in Atlanta, Georgia for over 18 years on WSTR (FM), WSTR. The duo was twice nominated for the Marconi Award. McCoy came to Atlanta in 1981 to work at WZ ...

, radio morning show host * Sylvester McCoy (1943–), Scottish actor * Tim McCoy (1891–1978), American actor * Tony McCoy, Irish National Hunt jockey *

Travis McCoy Travis Lazarus "Travie" McCoy (born August 5, 1981) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is the co-founder and former lead vocalist of the rap rock band Gym Class Heroes, in addition to having a solo career. McCoy became involved w ...

, member of the hip-hop group

Gym Class Heroes Gym Class Heroes was an American rap rock band from Geneva, New York. The group formed in 1997 when Travie McCoy met drummer Matt McGinley during their high school gym class. The band's music displays a wide variety of influences, including hip h ...

* Van McCoy (1940–1979), music producer and songwriter * Walter R. McCoy (1880–1952), stamp collector from New York City * William D. McCoy (1853–1893), American diplomat *

William S. McCoy William Frederick "Bill" McCoy (August 17, 1877 – December 30, 1948), was an American sea captain and rum-runner during the Prohibition in the United States. In pursuing the trade of smuggling alcohol from the Bahamas to the Eastern Seaboard, ...

(1877–1948), American rum–runner * Wilson McCoy (1902–1961), American artist and cartoonist

Fictional characters

Alice McCoy (Digimon) ''Digimon Tamers'', produced by Toei Animation and written by Chiaki J. Konaka as the third series in the '' Digimon'' franchise, is centered on the Digimon Tamers, a group of children partnered with a wild Digimon. The characters were designed by ...

, in ''Digimon Tamers'' *

Danny McCoy ''Las Vegas'' is an American comedy-drama television series created by Gary Scott Thompson. It was broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003, to February 15, 2008, airing for five seasons. It focuses on a team of people working at the Montecito, ...

, in ''Las Vegas'', a TV series * Ebenezar McCoy, a mentor in the book series: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher *Dr. Henry "Hank" P. McCoy, aka ' Beast' from Marvel Comics' X-Men * Jack McCoy, in the ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...

'' TV series *

Josie McCoy ''Josie and the Pussycats'' (initially published as ''She's Josie'' and ''Josie'') is a teen-humor comic book about a fictional rock band, created by Dan DeCarlo and published by Archie Comics. It was published from 1963 until 1982; since then, ...

, in the '' Josie and the Pussycats'' franchise * Leonard McCoy, a doctor on '' Star Trek: The Original Series'' *Ray McCoy, the main character of the 1997 video game '' Blade Runner'' *Sherman McCoy, in '' The Bonfire of the Vanities'' *Willie "Slim" McCoy, in the 1972 song " You Don't Mess Around with Jim" by Jim Croce

References

External links

About.com - Origin for the Surname MacCoy

Araltas.com - McCoy Coats of Arms
{{surname, McCoy

People

Fictional characters

See also

References

External links