Surname MacAughney - Meaning and Origin

MacAughney: What does the surname MacAughney mean?

The last name MacAughney is an anglicized version of the name Mac Amhachain, which is derived from the Gaelic term for the "son of the blacksmith". This surname can be found in many parts of Ireland, likely because of its common occupational origin. It is most frequent in its homeland, County Donegal, where it has been found since at least the 16th century.

The term MacAmhachain roughly translates to "son of the smith" or “black-smith” and likely originated from a prominent blacksmith in the region. Communities in Ireland and Scotland usually adopted the last names of their craftsmen, taking the name of the individual and adding "Mac" in Gaelic or "son of" in English. As such, many MacAughneys can trace their genealogy back to the same blacksmith ancestor and the clans that originated from them.

Beyond its likely occupational roots, the name MacAughney is especially prominent in the Donegal Gaeltacht area of Ireland (an area where Gaelic is spoken as a primary language). The pronunciation of MacAughney in Donegal tends to be either Muh-KOW-nee or Muh-KON-ee, and the families villages in the region with this surname are Distri MhicAmhachain and meenaweelagh.

MacAughney is a proud heritage and an important example of Irish surnames. It’s a reminder of the strong sense of community and respect for the tradesman of old, and stands as a legacy of the history and culture of Ireland.

MacAughney: Where does the name MacAughney come from?

The last name MacAughney is still commonly found throughout Ireland and Canada today.

In Ireland, the MacAughney surname is common in the Ulster counties of Antrim, Donegal, and Down, as well as in the provinces of Leinster and Munster. It is also found in Galway, Mayo, and Tipperary. The MacAughney family originated in the Ulster province in the 14th century.

In Canada, the MacAughney name is most commonly found in Nova Scotia. The first MacAughney family to immigrate to Canada settled in Yarmouth County in the mid-1800s. In recent years, the name has expanded to some other parts of Canada, including Ontario, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

The MacAughney name is still quite common in Ireland and Canada, especially in areas where the family has been established for generations. The MacAughney name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eachna, meaning “son of Eachna”. The MacAughney family is known for its belong not only to the MacEachna clan, but also to many other clans, including the Gallagher, Doherty, O’Rawe, and Maguiness.

Variations of the surname MacAughney

MacAughney is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin, derived from the Irish Mac Aodha Fhionnghaile, meaning ‘son of Aodh Fionngaille’. The surname is found mainly in the Province of Ulster in Northern Ireland and is especially numerous in County Monaghan.

Variations of MacAughney include MacAughan, MacAughanee, MacAugany, MacAughen, MacAughney, McAghan, McAghnian, McCaughan, McKaughan, and O’Cahney. Spellings of the surname are also varied, with some opting to use ‘Mac Aghney’ or ‘Mac Aghny’, while others prefer MacAughney.

The surname is also sometimes found spelled variously as ‘McCarrony’ or 'McCaughney', but these more likely originate from other similar Gaelic surnames such as Mac Críonadh, Mac Carún, or Mac Carain.

Although the surname is predominately found in Ireland, it has spread around the world. Variations of MacAughney, such as MacAughan, can be found in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.

Overall, MacAughney is a unique surname with ancient Gaelic roots that has been carried down through generations, and despite its variations in spelling and location, it still proudly stands as a reflection of the family’s Irish heritage.

Famous people with the name MacAughney

• Peter MacAughney: Peter MacAughney is a Canadian actor who has appeared in television shows such as Code 8, Frequency, Arrow, Killjoys and Almost Human.
• Ross MacAughney: Ross MacAughney is an American musician, founder of the band ZOX, and session bassist, keyboardist, and guitarist.
• William MacAughney: William MacAughney, or Bill, was an American actor and cartoonist. He was an actor who appeared in various films, television programs, commercials, and videos. He also wrote and drew the comic strip "What A Waste".
• Stewart MacAughney: Stewart MacAughney is a Canadian voice actor.
• Mark MacAughney: Mark MacAughney is a Scottish actor who is best known for his roles within the successful British independent comedy, feature film, "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers" and the short-film "Mind Frenzy".
• Caden MacAughney: Caden MacAughney is a Canadian actor known for playing the lead role of Mason in the independent feature film "Rise".
• Fergus MacAughney: Fergus MacAughney is a Canadian actor and musician. He is best known for his roles in the horror-comedy "The Cat Jumble, the sci-fi adventure "Arkio" and the dark comedy feature "Alicia".
• David MacAughney: David MacAughney is a Canadian actor and director known for such works as the television series "Geneology Roadshow", "Soulless", and "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes".
• Ryan MacAughney: Ryan MacAughney is an Irish-born actor and voice-over artist who has appeared in films such as "The Road to Oz", "Brick Mansions" and "The Summit".
• Rossa MacAughney: Rossa MacAughney is an Irish-born actor and director. He is best known for his work on the short film "Him", which was nominated for Best Short Film at the Dublin International Film Festival.

Other surnames

MacAughanMacAughtrie