Surname MacKeaghery - Meaning and Origin

MacKeaghery: What does the surname MacKeaghery mean?

The surname MacKeaghery is an old Irish name originating from Cork, Ireland. The name means "son of Keaghery," Keaghery being an ancient Irish surname derived from the Gaelic “mac Eachthighearna” which means “son of the lord of the horse”.

In ancient Ireland, the horse was a symbol of warfare, and the rider of a horse was a person of great esteem and power. Therefore, the name MacKeaghery carries connotations of a noble and respected family with ties to the military.

In modern Ireland, the name is primarily found in Cork with significant numbers of MacKeagherys also living in Clare and Kerry. The MacKeaghery surname has spread throughout the world with families in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.

The MacKeaghery's can trace their heritage back to the 12th century when the original family of this name, based in County Cork, attained prominence as a leading clan of Gaelic Chiefs. Since then, the family has continued to make a significant impact not only in Ireland, but elsewhere in the world.

The MacKeaghery's continue to carry honour and dignity in their name and the respect of their ancestors into the present day. The family continues to be active in both local and international affairs, with representatives in numerous fields of work. The name is associated with a steadfast, unique, and noble spirit that will persist long into the future.

MacKeaghery: Where does the name MacKeaghery come from?

The last name MacKeaghery is commonly found in Ireland today. It is among the top 100 most common surnames in the country, and in total there are around 14,000 people with this surname living in Ireland. The surname derives from the Irish MacEachthighearna, which translates as "Son of Eachthighearna", meaning 'lord of the horses'.

The majority of those bearing the MacKeaghery surname today will be found near Cork City in the south of Ireland, as a large percentage of those with this surname moved to this area in the nineteenth century. Other notable concentrations of MacKeaghery families include the surrounding counties of Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.

The wider Irish diaspora has seen many MacKeaghery families over the years in countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada and Australia, where the surname is also common today. Elsewhere in the world, many with the surname will be descended from the heritage of those who left Ireland many centuries ago, and today the surname can also be found in places such as England, Scotland, and Wales.

Variations of the surname MacKeaghery

The MacKeaghery surname comes from the Irish Gaelic language and is believed to derive from MacEachthigheir, which literally translates to mean ‘son of Archie.’The MacKeaghery surname is found primarily in Ireland and is also known as MacKeogh, MacKeghry, MacKeaggy, and MacKeeghery.

The MacKeaghery variation of the name is found most frequently throughout County Tipperary in the Southern part of Ireland. The names MacKeogh, MacKeghry, and MacKeeghery are found sporadically throughout Ireland in locations such as Cork, Wexford, and Dublin.

One of the more variant spellings of the name is MacKeaggy and is found throughout Ulster province. This variant spelling can be seen in places such as Fermanagh, Donegal, and Monaghan.

The MacKeaghery surname can also be seen as a variant spelling of the surname Magee. Magee is an Anglicized version of the Irish MacAoidh, which is usually pronounced ‘MacEe.’ The spelling variation of Magee is found primarily in the Ulster province and the Southwest of Ireland.

The MacKeaghery surname has been documented as far back as the 16th century in Ireland and is known to be part of an old Irish family. The surname can still be found in Ireland today, although with the different variations and spellings it is much less common than it was in times past.

Famous people with the name MacKeaghery

• Julie Mackeaghery: Canadian actor, best known for her roles in TV series such as “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and “The Vampire Diaries”
• Dan MacKeaghery: New Zealand filmmaker, who wrote and directed the acclaimed feature film “Kiwi Express”
• Will MacKeaghery: English rock musician and songwriter, best known as a lead singer for the popular indie-rock band “The Puddles”
• John MacKeaghery: Canadian sports commentator, who regularly appears on TSN and Sportsnet, and is the co-host of the hockey talk show “Hockey Night in Canada”
• Steve MacKeaghery: American football player and coach, best known as the Baltimore Ravens' head coach from 1998 to 2001
• Jess MacKeaghery: Australian singer and songwriter, best known for her debut album “From the Teeth of Lions”
• Donna MacKeaghery: Canadian novelist, her books include “The Hummingbird Divides” and “A Thousand Light Years Beyond”
• Jerry MacKeaghery: British actor, best known for his roles in the TV series “Dr. Who” and “The Bill”
• Sean MacKeaghery: Irish actor, who is best known for his roles in “Red Rock”, “The Sisters”, and “Vikings”
• Catherine MacKeaghery: British voice actress, best known for providing the voice of “Princess Dragunera” in the stop-motion animated series “Robo-Romeo”

Other surnames

MacKeaghry