Surname MacKeagney - Meaning and Origin
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MacKeagney: What does the surname MacKeagney mean?
The last name MacKeagney is an Irish surname with Gaelic roots. The roots of the name can be traced back to the Gaelic word "Mac Cionnaoith" which translates to "son of the fair one" or "son of the follower of a wise one". Historically, the MacKeagney family lived in the Connacht province of Ireland.
The surname MacKeagney can be found in various spellings, including MacKeaney, MacKeauny, and MacKeany. While the exact origination of the name is unclear, family records reveal that the name appeared in Ireland as early as the 16th century.
The MacKeagneys were known for their strong sense of loyalty and family bonds. They were a proud clan that committed themselves to protecting their homeland, and it’s not uncommon for the MacKeagney surname to be connected with tales of heroism through several generations.
The MacKeagneys were often viewed as equals among other Gaelic families, respected for their business and agricultural skills. They were known to be particularly adept in the practice of bee-keeping and were sometimes regarded as experts.
Today, the MacKeagney name is heavily concentrated throughout Connacht province and beyond. The MacKeagneys are still known for their strong sense of loyalty and family – a trait that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKeagney: Where does the name MacKeagney come from?
The last name MacKeagney is most commonly found in Ireland today. It is believed to be an Anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic “Mac Aonghusa,” meaning “son of Aonghus”. The Aonghusa family had various branches in Ireland, mainly in south Ulster and southeast Connacht. MacKeagney is found mainly in the counties of Tyrone, Armagh and Donegal.
There is some evidence that the MacKeagney family may have been displaced from their original homeland following the English invasion of Ireland in the 16th and 17th centuries. Records indicate that many MacKeagney's chose to move to nearby regions of Scotland. From there, the surname spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as to North America.
In the modern day, there are believed to be around 1,500 people in Ireland who share the MacKeagney surname. The majority of these people are concentrated in the counties of Donegal, Tyrone, and Armagh. However, the name is also found in other parts of the country, such as Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
Given its origins, it is also not surprising to find a large concentration of people bearing the MacKeagney surname in North America. The United States alone has an estimated 600 families with the name, with the highest concentrations being in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and California. Canada also has a notable number of MacKeagney families, particularly in Ontario and Quebec.
Overall, the last name MacKeagney is most commonly found in Ireland today, with a significant presence also to be found in North America.
Variations of the surname MacKeagney
The surname MacKeagney is an anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Eachmhicidh, which is derived from the first name Eachmhicidh. This first name is composed of two elements, which are “each” meaning “horse” and “macidh” meaning “son”. This surname originates from County Galway and County Mayo in Ireland.
MacKeagney is a very common surname, and therefore has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling variant is MacKeagny. Other variants include MacKeeney, MacKeeny, Keney, and MacKeeny. The surnames of the same origin include MacKenna, MacKenny, MacEachern, MacKenna, Kenealy, and Kinch.
The most popular spelling variant in Ireland is MacKeeney. It is a popular name in Mayo and Galway, and is fairly common in the United States as well. The variant Keeney is less common, but is still present in the United States of America.
The variants MacKenna and MacKenny are also both quite common in parts of Ireland. MacKenna is believed to be a variant of MacEachern, and is common in the northwestern part of the country. MacKenny is common in the counties of Mayo and Galway.
Kenealy is an uncommon variant of the MacKeagney surname, which is believed to originate in Limerick, Ireland. The variant Kinch can also be found in some parts of Ireland, as well as in the United States.
In summary, MacKeagney is a widely used surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. In parts of Ireland, it is most commonly spelled as MacKeeney, and in the United States, it is also spelled as MacKeagny, MacKeeny, Keeney, and MacKeeny. Other variants of the same origin include MacKenna, MacKenny, MacEachern, Kenealy, and Kinch.
Famous people with the name MacKeagney
- Maurice Mackeagney (1894-1917) was an English soldier who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross during the Battle of Passchendaele during WWI.
- Edward Mackeagney (1907-1974) was an American actor who was best known for his roles in The Life of David Gale and Hitler's Last Ten Days.
- Brian Mackeagney (born 1935) is a successful jazz composer and orchestrator from Canada.
- Zak MacKeagney (born 1992) is an English actor who has appeared in films like The Greatest Showman and the TV show Divorce.
- Graeme MacKeagney (born 1985) is an Australian professional boxer who has won multiple fights.
- Hunter MacKeagney (born 1948) is an award-winning documentary producer and director from the United States.
- Han MacKeagney (born 1995) is a professional actor and singer from England who has released several singles and an album.
- Austin MacKeagney (born 1978) is an American football coach and former player who has been a part of multiple championship teams.
- Jim MacKeagney (born 1993) is an Australian golfer and a member of the Professional Golfers' Association of Australia.
- Ryan MacKeagney (born 1989) is an Irish footballer who plays for Crusaders F.C. in the Northern Irish Football League.