Surname MacEoin - Meaning and Origin
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MacEoin: What does the surname MacEoin mean?
The last name MacEoin is of Irish origin and it translates to "Son of John" in English. The prefix “Mac” in Irish surnames generally indicates "son of", while "Eoin" is derived from the Hebrew name "John". This name was quite prevalent, especially in the northern regions of Ireland, suggesting that there may have been various unrelated families bearing this name. Like many Irish surnames, the spelling of MacEoin can vary considerably, including MacEoin, MacKeon, MacKeown, and MacKewan, among other variations. Notable figures with this surname have contributed to the fields of politics, literature and academia.
Order DNA origin analysisMacEoin: Where does the name MacEoin come from?
The surname MacEoin originates from Ireland. The name translates to "son of John" in Gaelic, with "Mac" meaning "son of" and "Eoin" being the Gaelic form of the name John. It is an ancient Irish surname that has survived many centuries and is still in use today.
The name is most common in Ireland, particularly in the western and northern regions of the country. Over centuries, it spread across the world as a result of Irish emigration. Thus, you will also find people with last name MacEoin in countries where individuals or families of Irish descent have settled, like the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and Canada amongst others. However, it is still not as prevalent as some other Irish surnames. Variations of the name include McEoin, McKeon, and McKeown etc. due to anglicization of the name. The differences in spelling often took place due to a general lack of standardization in transcribing Irish names to English, and due to changes that were sometimes made to make the pronunciation easier for non-Irish speakers. Despite these challenges, the basic form and meaning of the surname have endured.
Variations of the surname MacEoin
The surname MacEoin is of Scottish and Irish origin, and it translates to "son of John" in Gaelic. Variants and alternate spellings of this name, owing to regional differences, pronunciation evolution, or Anglicization, include MacKeon, McKeon, McEoin, McEwen, MacEwan, MacEwen, and Eoin.
It's also closely related to other surnames originating from variations of "John" in Gaelic, such as MacIan or Mackean. Surnames like MacJohn, Macean, MacJon, McIon, MacOn, are also connected.
In Ireland, it can be sometimes Anglicized as Johnson or Johnston, and in Scotland as Ewing, owing to the "son of John" meaning. The surname McCone is also considered a variant.
It's essential to note that many of these surnames may also have separate origins unrelated to MacEoin, and the same goes for surnames derived from "John" in different languages or cultures.
The exact variant or spelling can have considerable significance by, among other things, pinpointing a family's geographical origins, history, or degree of assimilation to English-speaking societies.
Famous people with the name MacEoin
- Brigadier General Sean MacEoin: an Irish soldier, politician and Fine Gael TD.
- Professor Diarmaid MacEoin: an Irish-born religious historian and textual critic specializing in Islamic studies.
- Dr. Dervla MacEoin: an Irish physician and Professor of Medicine in the Graduate Entry Medical School at the University of Limerick.
- Peadar MacEoin: an Irish-born pianist, composer, songwriter, educator, and arranger.
- Dáithí MacEoin: an Irish geologist, geophysicist, and environmental scientist.
- Lochlann MacEoin: an Irish author, playwright, and screenwriter based in Dublin.
- Breandán MacEoin: an Irish writer, historian, and Vice-President of the Irish branch of the Celtic League.
- Nuala MacEoin: an Irish-born journalist and writer based in Galway.
- Nessa MacEoin: an Irish voice-over artist, writer, and spoken-word artist.
- Jim MacEoin: a Scottish-born composer, music theorist, and technical writer.