The Scottish and Irish surname Mckee is derived from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, meaning son of Hugh. The Mckee family is an ancient Scottish family from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old kingdom of Moray. They were a powerful force in politics beginning in the 14th century, supporting Robert the Bruce. In the centuries that followed they were anti-Jacobite. The territory of the McKee's consisted of the parishes of Durness, Tongue and Farr in the north of the county of Sutherland, later it would extend and include the parish of Reay in the west of the neighboring county of Caithness. In Ireland the name McKee is found mainly in the northern province of Ulster.