Recorded in many spelling forms including MacDade, MacDaid, McDavitt, McDevitt, McKevitt, McDade, McDaid and even Davison, this is a surname of Irish origins. It derives from the pre 10th century Gaelic name Mac Daibheid, meaning the son of' David, from the ancient Hebrew name meaning "beloved of all". The nameholders are believed to have descended from David O'Doherty, a chief of Cinel Conaill, who was killed in battel in the year 1208. What is certainly true is that the clan grew to be numerous in the area of Inishowen, in County Donegal. The name is also well recorded in Scotland and particularly in the city of Glasgow. Amongst the many recordings are those of Elizabeth McDeid who married Barnaby Hagan at Drumschose, Londonderry, on November 17th 1750, William John McDade who was christened on July 24th 1833 at Dromore, County Down, and Catherine McKevitt, who with her sisters Mary and Julia, were Famine Emigrants who left Newry on the ship "Brothers" on April 23rd 1846, bound for New York. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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