MacFaoitigh meaning | Last name MacFaoitigh origin

MacFaoitigh is the derivation of Wight. 1. The Anglo-Saxon wiht means a man, a creature, anything; and the Old English, night, still retained in the phrase "luckless wight," has a similar signification. Another and more usual meaning of the word, is swift or active, as in the illustrative quotation of Haliwell:
"Y schalle gyf the two greyhowndys,
As wyght as any roo"
- that is, "as swift as any roe." The Scottish form of the word is nicht, which Historian Jamieson defines as, strong, powerful, active, clever; denoting strength of mind, or fertility of invention. 2. The Isle of Wight may possibly put in a claim in some cases.

MacFaoitigh is variant of Weightman. See Waithman, and Wightman - A hunter. Teutoni, weyd-man, venator, auceps.

Family name is an adaptation of the Wight. One who came from the Isle of Wight, i.e., that which has been raised, part of the former county of Hampshire.

Is the derivation of the White. The light or fair-complexioned person, or one with white hair; descendant of Hwita meaning "white".

Surname is derivation of Whyte. Variant of White meaning "the light or fair-complexioned person".

The lastname MacFaoitigh is a modification of White. Of light or fair complexion, corresponding with the French Le Blond, the Gaelic Bane, the Ital. Biondi, the Dutch De Witt, the Germ. Weiss, and the old classical Candidus, Chlorus, etc. The London Direct. shews almost 300 traders of this name. In the Hundred Rolls it is latinized Albus.

J. Yonge Akerman, Esq., late Sec. S. A., has suggested to me, that the name is far too common to allow of the supposition that it is derived solely from complexion, especially since the antithetical Black bears no proportion for numerousness—occurring in the above-mentioned repertory of names in the proportion of only one to ten. The Browns might be called in as allies of the Blacks, when the scale would be turned in favour of the dark complexion; According to historian Akerman, the name White is sometimes derived, not from Anglo-Saxon hnit (albus), but from huita, a sharpener, swordsmith, or armourer, and one Thurcil Hwita, mentioned in a document of the time of Canute (Codex Dipl.), might be cited on that side, as well as in proof of the great antiquity of the surname. Nisbet says: "As for the antiquity of the name, Sir James Dalrymple observes one Viniet Albus, witness in a charter of King Edgar to the church of Durham, who perhaps may be the first of the surname of White."

Surname is a modification of Whyte. The Scottish form of White. The Whytes, anciently free barons in the shires of Fife, Perth, etc., are said to have sprung from the noble family of Le Blanc in France. B.L.G.