Surname MacGaughan - Meaning and Origin
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MacGaughan: What does the surname MacGaughan mean?
The surname MacGaughan is of Irish origin. It's an anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mag Eacháin," which translates to "son of Eachán." The name Eachán itself is comprised of two elements: "each" referring to a horse, and "án," a diminutive suffix. Thus, the overall meaning of Eachán is considered to be 'little horse'. So, MacGaughan can be interpreted as 'son of the little horse'. Surnames that start with 'Mac' or 'Mc' are very common in Ireland and Scotland, as they were traditionally used to denote a family relationship, typically a patriarchal lineage. It's important to note that meanings of last names can vary, as they developed for purposes of identification, often related to an individual's occupation, location, or characteristics.
Order DNA origin analysisMacGaughan: Where does the name MacGaughan come from?
The last name MacGaughan is of Irish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eacháin," meaning "son of Eachán." Eachán is a personal name derived from each, meaning "steed," so the full surname loosely translates to "son of the horseman." Despite this foreign origin, the exact geographical roots within Ireland are difficult to pinpoint.
Nowadays, due to the effects of immigration and other historical events, the MacGaughan surname can be found in several different countries. It is most common in Ireland and English-speaking countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. However, even in these countries, it is still considered a relatively uncommon surname. Variations of the name, such as Gahan, Gaughan, and McGaughan, might be slightly more prevalent. As is the case with many surnames, the distribution of individuals with the last name MacGaughan is likely to be influenced by historical migration patterns.
Variations of the surname MacGaughan
The surname MacGaughan is not very common and there are only a few variations in spelling among records. The variants, spellings, and surnames likely related to it or derived from the same origin include MacGahan, McGahan, MacGaugh, McGaugh, MacGaughey, and McGauhey.
The name MacGaughan has Irish roots and is associated with the Gaelic name "Mag Eachain" which translates to "son of Eachan." So it could also be linked to the surnames Eachan or Aichan if anglicized differently in families of the same Gaelic roots.
It's important to remember that due to poor literacy levels in past centuries and dissemination from Ireland to the US or other English-speaking countries, many surnames were modified and spelled phonetically, leading to a wide array of spelling variations. This makes tracking a singular 'true' variant challenging as far as genealogy research is considered.
Famous people with the name MacGaughan
- John McGaughan: Veteran actor known for roles in ‘Tron’, ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘The Color of Money’.
- Tim McGaughan: Professional golfer who has won multiple PGA Tour events.
- Michael McGaughan: Country singer and songwriter best known for his number one hit ‘Dreams Of the Everyday Housewife’.
- Robert McGaughan: American author and journalist who has written extensively about science, culture and travel.
- Patrick McGaughan: American rower who has competed at the Olympic Games and won numerous events.
- Christopher McGaughan: Retired professional basketball player who was twice named an All-Star.
- Jennifer McGaughan: Singer/songwriter from the US Virgin Islands whose debut album ‘Blue Satin Moods’ was released in 2019.
- Anne McGaughan: Irish author best known for her children's fiction novels.
- William MacGaughan: Mayor of Liverpool from 1903 to 1907.
- Bruce MacGaughan: Writer and director of the short films ‘Game Day’, ‘Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Hail, Caesar!’.