Surname MacKeighan - Meaning and Origin
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MacKeighan: What does the surname MacKeighan mean?
The surname MacKeighan is of Scottish origin, although it is not very common. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic name "MacEachain," which directly translates to "son of Eachan". The name Eachan itself is composed of two parts: "each" means "horse" and "an" is a diminutive suffix, so the full meaning could potentially be translated into "son of the little horse." Variations of the surname include MacEachan, MacGeachan, MacKechnie, and MacKeighan, among others. Like many surnames, it was often given based on some characteristic of a person, so the original "MacEachan" or MacKeighan could have been someone who was small but strong and fast, like a pony. However, this is speculative, as the exact origins and meaning of this specific surname are undocumented and unclear. With surnames that have multiple potential meanings, it's essential to trace your specific family history to understand what it may mean for you.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKeighan: Where does the name MacKeighan come from?
The surname MacKeighan is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Eachain", where "Mac" refers to 'son of' and "Eachain" refers to a personal name which means 'horse lord' or 'horse master'. Given the Scottish origin, this surname is likely to have been associated with the Highland clans in Scotland, dating back to the Middle Ages.
Despite its Scottish origins, the surname is not very common in Scotland today. Like many Scottish surnames, it is more likely to be found in countries where Scottish emigrants have settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, the distribution of the surname is likely to be quite sparse given that it is not a common surname. Individual instances of the surname might be encountered generally across these countries, rather than concentrated in particular regions. The surname may have different spellings including McKeighan, Mackechan, and Maceachen, due to phonetic translations over time and space.
Variations of the surname MacKeighan
The surname MacKeighan is of Scottish and Irish origin. Variants of the name can include different spellings based on linguistic differences, region, or adoption over time. Variations for MacKeighan can include McKegan, MacKeegan, MacCegan, MacKeggin, MacKiggan, McKiggan, McKeggin, and McKeggon.
These variants often arose due to the phonetic spelling by different clerks and church officials in historical records. Therefore, you may also see variations like MacKegan, McKiegan, MacKeigan, MacKeggon, and even possibly M'Keighan.
Specifically in Ireland, variants may include O'Cegan or O'Kegan, the addition of "O'" denoting "descendant of." Similarly, the Scottish Mac or Mc prefix is used to indicate "son of."
Other surnames which might be related due to either linguistic or regional ties include Keegan, Egan, Hegan, and Keggan. McGregor and McKeegan are also possibilities.
Please note that this isn't an exhaustive list, and surname variations can be extensive, particularly for names originating in the Gaelic language. The adoption of surnames and their various spellings is often influenced by factors such as immigration, regional dialects and even literacy levels.
Famous people with the name MacKeighan
- Danny MacKeighan: actor, screenwriter, and producer.
- Charlotte MacKeighan: Australian actress best known for appearing in the drama series Offspring.
- Sarah MacKeighan: former Australian journalist and winner of the AACTA Award for Best Documentary Program.
- Barry MacKeighan: former Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League.
- David MacKeighan: former Australian Rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League.
- Amber MacKeighan: Australian television presenter; best known for her home and lifestyle programs on the Seven Network.
- Greg MacKeighan: British actor, writer, producer, and director; best known for his role in the BBC comedy series Lead Balloon.
- Sibyl MacKeighan: English actress who has appeared on the soap opera Coronation Street.
- Carmen MacKeighan: British actress best known for her roles in television series such as Doctor Who and Casualty.
- Chris MacKeighan: American music producer and musician best known for recording works such as Korn and Limp Bizkit's classic albums.