Surname Dunnachie - Meaning and Origin
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Dunnachie: What does the surname Dunnachie mean?
The last name Dunnachie is derived from the Scottish Gaelic and Irish surname "Dunachaidh". This name is composed of two Gaelic words, "dun," meaning fort, and "achadh," meaning a field. Put together, this surname implies ownership over or strong connection to a fortified field.
The Dunnachie name is found all throughout Scotland, primarily in the northern region, where the Gaelic language was more prevalent during the Middle Ages. The name is also found in northern Ireland and England, where the name was taken by immigrant Scots.
The Dunnachie name is an enduring legacy of Scottish history and culture. It serves as a reminder of the days of warring clans and defending fortifications in a time where alliances could be familial just as easily as they could be political. Those with the Dunnachie surname are descendants of the proud warriors and landowners that defended Scotland's borders and shaped the foundation for the modern nation.
Order DNA origin analysisDunnachie: Where does the name Dunnachie come from?
The last name Dunnachie is most commonly found in Scotland and parts of Northern England. In Scotland, it is found particularly in the northeastern part of the country, including Aberdeenshire and Perth & Kinross, where it’s counted among the top 500 surnames. It is also found in other parts of Scotland, including Glasgow, Stranraer, and Inverness.
The last name Dunnachie is also common in Northern England, particularly in the north west of the county. It’s particularly common in Cumbria, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, where it is counted among the top 1,000 names.
In the United States, the last name Dunnachie is mainly found in areas with significant Scottish or British settlement, such as New England and the Upper South. It’s also common in the other areas of the country where there has been significant migration of Scottish or British heritage, such as California, Oregon, Washington, and Texas.
The surname is also quite common in Canada, particularly in the maritime region, including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where it is counted among the top 500 last names.
Overall, Dunnachie is a surname that has spread from Britain to other parts of the world, including the US and Canada. It is still most commonly found in Britain, particularly Scotland and Northern England.
Variations of the surname Dunnachie
The surname Dunnachie is of Scottish origin from the lands of Dunniche in Aberdeenshire. The name is derived from the Gaelic words 'dun' meaning 'hill' and 'na h-Uchd' meaning 'of the breast'. It can also be spelled as Donachie, Donachy, Dunachie, Dunachy, Dunnachy, Dunniche, MacDonachie, MacDonachy, MacDunniche.
Variants of the Dunnachie name are Dunniche, MacDunachie, MacDonachie, and McDonachy, MacDunniche. In some cases, the prefix Mac or Mc may be used to denote 'son of', hence, 'son of Donachie', or 'son of Dunniche' whereas MacDunachie and MacDonachie are interchangeable. In Scottish cases, there is a tendency to drop the letter C before adding the letter I, so, Dunachie may be spelled as Dunniche. Also, 'Mc' can sometimes be used as an alternative to 'Mac'.
The surname Dunnachie can be modified slightly by adding a ‘y’ or dropping the ‘c’, such as Dunny or Dunnyh. The surname can also appear to be hyphenated, i.e. Dunni-chie or Dunni-chy. Occasionally, the name can be found with an additional letter ‘S’ at the end, such as Dunnachies or Dunniches.
Many of the Dunnachie surname bearers can be found in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness-shire. Where these names can also be found is in places which have had Scots immigrants like Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Famous people with the name Dunnachie
- Russel Dunnachie: Former Australian politician and editor of the Henty Observer
- Jonny Dunnachie: Professional English footballer, currently plays for York City
- Kenneth Dunnachie: Canadian filmmaker, best known for his 2015 film Once There Was Brazil
- Alison Dunnachie: Scottish politician, current Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Central Scotland
- Alison Dunnachie: Professor of Drama and Creative Writing at the City, University of London
- Morna Dunnachie: Scottish actress, best known for her roles in The Dumping Ground and A-Z of Mrs. P
- Dawn Dunnachie: London-based author and songwriter, part of the British folk-rock band The Scaramouche Project
- John Dunnachie: Rated Scottish golf teacher, runs his own teaching facility with his wife at Alness Golf Club
- Hamish Dunnachie: Scottish writer and author, best known for his novel Blackink of Newcastleton
- Laura Dunnachie: Scottish television presenter, currently works on the CBBC show Friday Download