The Irish and Scottish surname McAdams is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Adaim meaning “son of Adam.” In Ireland, it has also been adopted as a surname by bearers of the names McCadden (in County Armagh) and McCaw (in County Cavan). The clan and particulary the MacAdams of Waterhead in Ayrshire, amongst whose members was the famous road builder John MacAdam, have long claimed association with the Clan MacGregor. They were originally landowners in Calady in 1460, when Fynlay McKadem was the incumbent, whilst in 1615 Peter M'Caddamme in an other unusual spelling, held the lands of Craiglure on grant from the earl of Carrick.