Surname MacDonald of Keppoch - Meaning and Origin
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MacDonald of Keppoch: What does the surname MacDonald of Keppoch mean?
The last name MacDonald of Keppoch was adopted by several Scottish clans in the late 16th century and derives from the Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill. In Scotland, it usually refers to clan MacDonald of the Keppoch branch, descended from the MacDonalds of Clanranald, as found in Lochaber. There, the MacDonalds were a sept or branch of the larger Clan Donald, and centered on the Keppoch area near Loch Laggan in the northwest of Scotland in modern-day Inverness-shire.
The meaning of the name is "son of Donald". This is derived from the Scottish Gaelic personal name of Domhnall, which is composed of elements meaning "world" and "mighty," likely referencing the Celtic god of the sea, who is also known as Fionn Mac Cumhail. The name itself is a common Gaelic surname found throughout Scotland.
The clan MacDonald of Keppoch has maintained a long, rich tradition as the guardians of western Scotland stretching back to the Middle Ages. They were renowned for their fierce military proficiency and endurance, as they fought alongside other clans as allies and rivals throughout the ages.
The modern clan MacDonald of Keppoch upholds the traditions of bravery and loyalty of their ancestors, and continues to be recognized in Scotland. The current Chief of Clan Donald is Macdonald of Sleat, a branch of the larger Clan Donald. As such, the MacDonald of Clan Donald and the MacDonald of Keppoch remain united both historically and contemporarily.
Order DNA origin analysisMacDonald of Keppoch: Where does the name MacDonald of Keppoch come from?
The last name MacDonald of Keppoch is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in the north-west Highlands. It is an especially strong surname in the areas of Perthshire, Inverness-shire, and Argyllshire.
The MacDonalds of Keppoch are descended from the Lord of Isles, and their history was documented from the late 1300s. It is likely that the family was originally located in the Isle of Skye but scattered throughout the Highlands during the turbulent period of the Scottish Civil War of the 1600s.
The MacDonald of Keppoch clan is still very much alive today, with around 2,000 members globally. Many MacDonalds are still living in the areas where the clan once held residence, and their lands of Lochaber and Badenoch in the north-west Highland are still closely associated with the clan.
The MacDonalds of Keppoch are well-known for their fierce loyalty and dependability, traits which have been passed down through the generations to descendants of the clan. In the 19th century, one of the clan’s patriarchs, Alexander MacDonald, was said to have declared that “no MacDonalds shall ever surrender” - an example of the bravery and courage that this proud clan has continued to uphold.
The MacDonalds of Keppoch have left an indelible mark on Scotland. Their story continues to captivate these lands even today, and their presence is still proudly felt in the highlands of Scotland.
Variations of the surname MacDonald of Keppoch
The surnames MacDonald of Keppoch is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Dhomhnuill. This is the original spelling of the name and is believed to come from the Scottish region of Keppoch. Variations, spellings, and other names related to this origin include:
McDonald of Keppoch: This is the common spelling of the family name MacDonald. It is thought to be derived from the Latin phrase maculum domini, meaning "son of the lord".
MacDream: This can also be seen as a variation of MacDonald, often seen as an anglicized version of the Gaelic form.
MacDhomhnuill: This is the original Gaelic spelling of the surname and is still seen as a variant today.
McDonnell: This is another anglicized version of the name which is thought to be derived from the Gaelic form.
MacDhomhnuill Dhubhs: This is an extended version of the MacDonald name, which includes a second Gaelic element meaning "dark", in order to distinguish the branches of the clan.
McKeppoch: This is a surname derived from the same root as the surname MacDonald. It is believed to be derived from the English interpretation of the name MacDonald, and is thought to be related to the Scottish area of Keppoch.
McDonald of Clanranald: This is another variant of the surname MacDonald, which has been derived from the Clanranald branch of the clan.
McCreadie: This is a variant of the name McDonald which is thought to have been derived from the Scottish area of Creadaid.
Mackinnon: This is another variation on the MacDonald surname which is derived from the Clan Mackinnon branch of the clan.
Macinnes: This is a variant of the MacDonald name which includes an additional Gaelic element meaning "Island". It is thought to be related to the Scottish area of MacInnes.
McDugal: This is a variation on the name McDonald which is believed to have been derived from the Scottish area of Dugald.
Famous people with the name MacDonald of Keppoch
- Angus "Rule" MacDonald (17th century chief of Clan MacDonald),
- Alexander MacDonald (18th century clan chief and Jacobite),
- Ronald McDonald (restaurant mascot),
- Ranald MacDonald (19th century US Navy Admiral and Japanese-language translator),
- William MacDonald (19th century Canadian politician),
- John MacDonald of Keppoch (17th century clan chief and Jacobite),
- Donald MacDonald (19th century Canadian Member of Parliament and Premier of Prince Edward Island),
- Colonel Alexander Ranaldson "Ran" MacDonald (19th century Colonel of the Canadian militia and Keppoch clan member),
- Rev. Hugh MacDonald (19th century minister of Keppoch and author of the "History of Keppoch"),
- John Keppoch MacDonald (19th century Keppoch chief and Canadian politician),
- Forbes MacDonald (19th century military leader and Keppoch chief),
- Ranald MacDonald Jr. (20th century Canadian money manager and philanthropist),
- Royal E. "Roy" MacDonald (20th century Canadian musician and composer),
- William Alexander "Bill" MacDonald (20th century Canadian politician and journalist),
- Angus "Gus" MacDonald (20th century Canadian politician).