Surname Mackeggie - Meaning and Origin
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Mackeggie: What does the surname Mackeggie mean?
The last name Mackeggie is thought to originate from the western highlands of Scotland and has a few different derivations. Firstly, it could derive from the derive from the Gaelic term ‘mac’ meaning ‘son,’ and the Gaelic ‘geag’ meaning ‘little’. This suggests that the Mackeggie surname could mean ‘son of the little one’. Alternatively, it could derive from the Gaelic ‘mac’ meaning ‘son’ and ‘cathag’ meaning ‘battle’. Again, this would indicate the meaning of the surname being ‘son of the battle’.
The Mackeggie surname is often regionalised, being associated mainly with the highlands of Scotland. In the 16th century, many of the earlier Mackeggie clans were already settled in the Western Isles and Kintyre peninsula. Since then, many of the Mackeggie family have moved further south in Scotland. Although many have left Scotland, the surname still flourishes there today.
Overall, the Mackeggie surname is largely associated with Scottish heritage, and has a few different etymologies. It could derive from ‘son of the little one’ or ‘son of the battle’ though the exact meaning will always remain unknown.
Order DNA origin analysisMackeggie: Where does the name Mackeggie come from?
The last name Mackeggie is most common today in Australia. According to surname databases compiled by Forebears, the last name Mackeggie is ranked as the 3164th most common surname in Australia with approximately 217 people bearing this name. The records indicate that most Mackeggies live in Tasmania, a state located in the south of Australia, where 0.001% of the population bears this last name. Outside of Australia, the surname Mackeggie is very uncommon, with the highest frequency being reported in Scotland with only 0.00016% of the population sharing this surname.
The origin of the surname Mackeggie isn't definitively known. However, common theory suggests that it is of Scottish origin and may be derived from the forename MacKeggie, a variant of the Scottish surname MacGeogh. This suggests that the Mackeggies are descended from a large, extended family, that likely originated near the Scottish coast.
Since this surname is relatively rare, it is unknown how many Australian Mackeggies are related. However, the small number of this surname and its high frequency in Australia suggest that most people with the name Mackeggie are likely related, just not to each other.
Variations of the surname Mackeggie
The surname Mackeggie is a Scottish surname of unknown origin. It is thought to have derived from the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Coinnigh", which is a name form of the Celtic "Conwy", meaning "hound of the plain". The Mackeggie name can be found in various spelling forms and variants such as MacKegg, McKeggy, MacEggy, MacKinch, MacKeg, and MacLegg.
MacKegg is an earlier Murrayish form of the Mackeggie name, recorded as early as the 16th century in Strathmore, Scotland. McKeggy is another form of the Mackeggie surname, associated primarily with counties Derry and Antrim in northern Ireland.
MacEggy is a variant of Mackeggie found commonly in Scotland. It is thought to have derived from Gaelic roots. MacKinch is an anglicised form of the Mackeggie name, found primarily in counties Tyrone and Antrim in Northern Ireland.
MacKeg is another variant of the Mackeggie name, thought to have originated in the Irish province of Ulster. It is similar to both MacEggy and MacKinch but with a slightly different spelling.
Finally, MacLegg is another variant of the Mackeggie name, thought to have been derived from the Scottish variant of the popular surname MacLeod. This variant is found mainly in Scotland and Ireland.
Overall, there are many variants and spellings of the surname Mackeggie, each with its own distinct origin story. All these spellings and variants are thought to have derived from the Gaelic language and can be found in various parts of Scotland and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Mackeggie
- Margot Mackeggie, Scottish former footballer.
- Robert Mackeggie, British architect and artist.
- Rob Mackeggie, Canadian actor, director and producer.
- Simon Mackeggie, British Sir, politician and academic.
- Andy Mackeggie, Scottish rugby union player.
- Duncan Mackeggie, English cricketer.
- Tricia Mackeggie, American actress and singer.
- Allan Mackeggie, Scottish golf player.
- William Mackeggie, English poet, playwright and novelist.
- George Mackeggie, Australian painter.