Surname MacKechnie - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKechnie: What does the surname MacKechnie mean?
The surname MacKechnie is of Scottish origin, derived from the personal name "Eachan," which is often considered equivalent to "Hector." Therefore, "MacKechnie" generally translates to "son of Eachan" or "son of Hector."
Adhering to the Gaelic naming tradition, "Mac" means "son of," while "Kechnie" is the anglicized form of "Eachan" or "Hector". Eachan (also spelled Eachann) is a Gaelic name itself derived from "each" (horse) and "donn" (brown). Hence, Eachan can be interpreted as 'brown horse'.
As with many surnames of this type, different branches and spelling variations, including MacEachan, MacGeachie, and MacKechin, have developed over centuries. The surname is most prevalent in Scotland but can be found among Scottish diaspora worldwide. Despite its connections to the personal name Hector, it's essential to remember that meanings of names can change based on regional usage and familial traditions.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKechnie: Where does the name MacKechnie come from?
The last name MacKechnie is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the personal name Eachan, which is a diminutive of the Gaelic name Eachann, meaning 'horse lord'. The prefix "Mac" in Scottish and Irish surnames means "son of", hence MacKechnie translates to "son of Eachan".
Like many Scottish surnames, MacKechnie had various spellings due to the translation from Gaelic to English. These include: McKechnie, MacKechnie, MacKechney, MacKetchnie, MacKechan and others.
While this surname is prevalent in Scotland, a great number of Scottish people emigrated during the 18th and 19th centuries due to social and economic hardships. These emigrants brought their unique culture and surnames, including MacKechnie, to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
As such, today, though the surname MacKechnie remains distinctly Scottish, it is not limited to Scotland, and you can find bearers of the name MacKechnie in these countries and beyond, where descendants of those Scottish emigrants live.
Variations of the surname MacKechnie
The surname MacKechnie has mainly Scottish origins and has various spellings due to its phonetic transcription. Variants of this surname include Mackechney, Mackenie, Mckechnie, McKechnie, Makkechenie, Machechney, Mackchenie, Mackenne, McKecknie, McKenne, McKetchnie, MacKenney, MacKetchnie, and MacKecknie.
It's also similar to other Scottish surnames like MacKenzie, McEnzie, or MacKenna. The 'Mac' or 'Mc' prefix indicates 'son of', often followed by a personal name or descriptive nickname. In this case, it could be 'son of the wise', since its root may come from "Mac Echdachain", meaning "Eochaidh’s son" or "the son of the horse rider".
Surnames of the same origin can include MacEachen or McEachin, which also means 'son of Eachen/Eochaidh' or 'son of the horse rider' in Scottish Gaelic.
Due to immigration and translation variations, these surnames have been anglicized or americanized into numerous forms. For example, in some countries, the prefix 'Mac' may be dropped entirely, or the 'Mc' could change to 'Mack'. It is also common to eliminate elements that cause pronunciation difficulties, or translates a part of the name, turning 'MacKechnie' into 'Kennie' or 'Kenney' for example.
Famous people with the name MacKechnie
- Craig Mackechnie: an American actor best known for playing Jason in the Nickelodeon teen sitcom Just for Kicks.
- Russ MacKechney: a Canadian actor best known for his roles in films such as Bless the Child, Deep Cold, and the Storm.
- Darcey MacKechnie: a Canadian singer-songwriter and instrumentalist heavily involved in the Canadian folk and alternative music scenes.
- Vic MacKechnie: a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director, best known for his performances on the television series Kim’s Convenience and Murdoch Mysteries.
- Albert MacKechney: an actor and musician from Alberta, Canada. He appeared in the Hillside television series as Scooby.
- Don MacKechnie: an American actor and voice actor known for his work in Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon shows.
- Ann Mackechnie: a Canadian playwright, novelist, poet, and journalist.
- Kenny MacKechnie: a Scottish actor, best known for his roles on television series such as Taggart and Monarch of the Glen.
- Andrew MacKechnie: a Scottish architect, urban planner, author, and professor.
- Sidney MacKechnie: a Scottish former professional footballer, who played mostly as a goalkeeper.