Surname MacKegney - Meaning and Origin
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MacKegney: What does the surname MacKegney mean?
The surname MacKegney is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Irish surname Mac Eicnigh. This name translates to "son of the early-riser" in English and is a descriptive byname, or nickname, that originated in County Tyrone in the northwest corner of Ireland. The name is most commonly found in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
Originally, this name was most likely a reference to the practice of Irish people rising with the sun to attend services at their local church, or a reminder of the ancient agricultural practice of getting to the land before the sun cleared the horizon.
The use of MacKegney, or similarly in other countries, as a surname today is for the most part associated with Irish-American or Scottish-American families who initially emigrated from Ireland or Scotland to the United States and then on to other countries such as Canada and Australia. Those who carry the name today are likely the descendants of proud, strong, and resilient Irish and Scottish immigrants who traveled to unfamiliar shores in search of a better life.
Though the etymology of the name is ancient, its continued use centuries later is a testament to the courage and dedication of the brave people who chose to pursue a dream that changed the course of their life.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKegney: Where does the name MacKegney come from?
The MacKegney surname today can be found primarily in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and the United States. In Northern Ireland, it is most common in County Fermanagh and County Tyrone. This is due to the fact that many of the MacKegneys living in this region descend from a single immigrant ancestor, Hugh Mageowny, who arrived sometime in the 17th century. In Scotland and England, the surname is mainly found in the Borders Region and in the counties of West Lothian and East Lothian. It is most likely among people of Scottish descent who trace their roots back to the Highlands region. The United States is also home to many MacKegneys, particularly in states like New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oregon. This is because significant numbers of British citizens with this last name moved to the US in the 19th century due to various economic and political reasons. In addition to these, small numbers of MacKegneys can also be found in the other countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname MacKegney
The surname MacKegney is derived from the Gaelic “Mac Ceiteag”, an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Mac Cataidh. It is a patronymic name, which means it is derived from the name of a father and has various spellings and variants. The original spelling of MacKegney is MacCataidh, with other variations including MacKaitney, McKaytee, MacKayney, and MacKeney. Common spellings of this surname include MacKainey, ArcKegney, and MacKegnie.
There are a number of other variants of the MacKegney surname that have been found throughout Scotland, Ireland, and England such as MacKeegan, MacKeaghan, MacKeighan, MacKeagey, MacKainey, and MacKeanie. It is also possible to find slight variations of the spelling, such as McKeckney, Mackenney, and McKegnie.
In some cases, the surname has been seen as an adopted surname with different spellings, such as McKanay, Vintage, McKanney, McKagatey, and Mackenny. Additionally, the MacKegney surname may also be associated with other surnames such as MacKichan, MacKechin, and MacKeesson with some people using these surname variations to represent themselves.
The MacKegney surname is still in use today and can be found all over the world. However, the spellings have evolved over time and each variant of the surname holds its own unique history and meaning.
Famous people with the name MacKegney
- Pat MacKegney: an American actress and former model who is best known for her close partnership with photographer Francesco Scavullo.
- Lin MacKegney: an American dancer, choreographer, and teacher, best known for her early career as a Rockette and for having danced for London's Royal Ballet.
- Joe MacKegney: a Canadian figure skating coach and former competitive skater. He is a four-time Canadian bronze medalist, a two-time World Junior Champion and a three-time Olympian.
- Maddie MacKegney: an American singer, songwriter, and TV personality. She first rose to prominence as a contestant on the fifth season of The Voice.
- Tim MacKegney: American-born Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of various characters in the Canadian TV series, Corner Gas.
- C. J. MacKegney: a Canadian ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA).
- Steve MacKegney: a Canadian former ice hockey player who spent a total of 13 seasons in the National Hockey League between the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars.
- Maria MacKegney: a British-born Canadian television producer and director known for producing such TV series as The X Files, Haven, and St. Elsewhere.
- Mandy MacKegney: a Canadian actress and producer who appeared in several television series and made-for-TV movies. She is most known for her role of Dr. Maggie Blodgett on the TV series, Street Legal.
- Joe MacKegney Jr.: a Canadian actor, director, and writer best known for his role as Ranger Gord on the series, The Littlest Hobo.