Surname MacGeoch - Meaning and Origin

MacGeoch: What does the surname MacGeoch mean?

The last name MacGeoch is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eoghainn, meaning "son of Eoghan", or alternatively, "son of Ewen". Eoghan was a popular Irish name which means "born from a yew tree".

The MacGeochs were originally part of Clan Chattan, whose clan chiefs were the Mackintoshes from the area of the Strath of theHighland Clan. The name MacGeoch spread further into the neighboring territories as a result of the rise in power of the Clan Chattan, with a notable presence in Aberdeenshire and Scotland's West Coast.

MacGeochs have a long history in Scotland, with an especially strong presence in Sutherland. Early references to the name are made in the 14th century, notably in a Fire of Assurance (a legal contract to protect one's land or rights) where a Malcolm MacGoan is mentioned as a witness. In the 15th century, the name was used by the Abbots of Kinloss and again in 1562 by the Abbot of Dornoch, as a witness to a correspondence.

The MacGeochs of Sutherland were celebrated in local Highlands folklore. The most renowned MacGeochs being the Lochiergeag MacEence, who lived during the sixteenth century and were renowned for their bravery and ferocity in battle.

Today, the name can be found in Scotland, Ireland, and across the world. It is still relatively uncommon, making it an interesting and special family name to carry.

MacGeoch: Where does the name MacGeoch come from?

The surname MacGeoch originates in Scotland and is primarily found among people living there. While the data is limited due to the prevalence of historically short-lived surnames, the name MacGeoch is thought to have first emerged around 1650 in the Strathmore region of Angus. Today, the surname is found in both Scotland and the United Kingdom, though at a much lower rate than in the past. The most common region where the surname is found today is in the north-east of Scotland, particularly in Angus, Aberdeenshire and the Moray and Highland areas. An analysis of the 1881 census from Scotland showed the surname as being primarily present in the Angus district, with the majority of people with the MacGeoch name living in the small Angus town of Finavon and the surrounding area. In recent years, more people with the surname MacGeoch have spread across Scotland, and there is an increasing presence of the surname in the rest of the UK, due to people having relocated internally or from overseas. With modern-day mobility and globalisation, the surname MacGeoch is now spread further afield, with those bearing the name having settled in more distant lands, such as the United States, Canada and Australia.

Variations of the surname MacGeoch

MacGeoch is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Giogh. The Gaelic implied meaning of the name is 'son of the healer' suggesting that the original family may have originated in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The variants of this name include MacGeogh, MacGeoughe, MacGegh, MacGaghe, and MacGee. Some other spellings of the surname are MacGeochie, MacGeoigh, MacGeochie, and MacGeouche.

Surnames of the same origin include MacCoe, MacCow, MacCou, MacGagh, MacGigue, MacGish, MacGou, and MacGough. All of these surnames denote the same origin, that of being 'son of the healer'. The spelling of the names may vary from one region to another due to linguistic differences, but the meaning remains the same.

The variant spellings of the surname are derived from those of the original Gaelic form. For example, MacGee is a result of the Anglicized form of Mac Giogh being mispronounced and represented as MacGee. Additionally, MacGouge would be an alternate form of the original Gaelic spelling, with the ‘gh’ being replaced by a ‘g’.

In conclusion, the surname MacGeoch and its variants and other surnames of the same origin are derived from the Gaelic 'son of the healer'. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include MacGee, MacGeogh, MacGeoughe, MacGagh, MacGou, MacGouge, and MacGough amongst others.

Famous people with the name MacGeoch

• Isabella MacGeoch, a British Bend105 artist and holder of the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive Flagpole Sit days, in excess of 250 days.
• Flahr MacGeoch, a British novelist, poet, and author of the book “Shattered Vows.”
• Paul MacGeoch, a British actor best known for his role as Lord Maradick in the 2016 television drama series “Two Strangers and a Wedding”.
• John MacGeoch, an American former basketball player who played in the NBA from 1991 to 1996.
• Conn MacGeoch, a Scottish actor who appears in the television series “Outlander” and “Still Game”.
• Ciara MacGeoch, a British singer-songwriter who has released several albums and performed numerous live shows.
• Neal MacGeoch, a Canadian video game developer and creator of the popular “Monument Valley” series.
• Llama MacGeoch, a British YouTuber known for her video game reviews, top 10 lists, and vlogs.
• Agatha MacGeoch, an American jewelry designer and co-founder of the jewelry design house “Mckinney & MacGeoch.”
• Annie MacGeoch, a British TV actress and presenter, best known for her role as Hooper in the series “This Farm Life” and “Fact or Faction”.

Other surnames

MacGeorgeMacGeough