Surname MacKeithan - Meaning and Origin

MacKeithan: What does the surname MacKeithan mean?

The last name MacKeithan is a derivative of the Scottish surname MacKechnie, which itself is a version of MacEachan. Being a patronymic name, it originates from the Gaelic personal name Eachann, made up of the elements "each," meaning "horse" and "donn," meaning "brown." Thus, MacKeithan could mean "son of Eachann" or "son of the brown horse." As with many surnames that have evolved over centuries and through migrations, different families bearing this surname may have different origins. It is common throughout Scotland and in particular the western isles and highlands of Scotland.

MacKeithan: Where does the name MacKeithan come from?

The surname MacKeithan is believed to be of Scottish origin. It is a derivative of the Gaelic name MacEideadhain, which translates to "son of Eideadhain." The surname is generally found in regions where Scottish influence was prevalent, arising from their regional settlements and feudal territories. However, the spelling and pronunciation of the name have evolved over the years due to migration, and the evolution of the Gaelic language itself.

Today, like many Scottish surnames, MacKeithan can be found in areas where Scottish emigrants settled, most notably in North America, especially in the United States and Canada. It is crucial to note that the name may exist in various forms due to phonetic spellings, regional dialects, and even translation to other languages. This makes tracking the exact prevalence more challenging. Despite these challenges, the name MacKeithan is not very common today. Like many unique surnames, its popularity is somewhat scattered globally. However, it is possible to observe a higher concentration in its areas of origin, as well as in regions with a significant Scottish diaspora.

Variations of the surname MacKeithan

The surname MacKeithan is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name 'Mac Aoidh' which means 'son of fire'. It is mostly found among Scottish and Irish families.

The surname has various spellings and variations due to regional accents, migrations, and translation between Gaelic and English. Some of the most common variants include MacKethan, McKethan, MacKithan and McKithan. Some other alternative spellings are Mckethen, Mackethen, Mckeithen, Mackeithen which all have the same pronunciation with slight changes in spelling.

Further Anglicization of the surname has led to other variants such as Mackay, McKay, McKie, and McGee. These variations might have entirely different spellings but stem from the same Gaelic origin, hence they can be considered as variations of MacKeithan.

In some cases, the prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc', both indicating 'son of', has been dropped leading to variants such as Keithan or Kethan. The use of such variants is less common but they do exist.

Due to the complex nature of surname evolution and the influence of local dialects, there can be many more obscure and less common variations of the surname MacKeithan.

Famous people with the name MacKeithan

• Seumas MacKeithan: Canadian former professional ice hockey centre
• Michael MacKeithan: Canadian artist
• Vivienne MacKetchen: British former Olympic fencer
• Angus MacKetchen: British former Olympic fencer
• John MacKetchen: British former Olympic fencer
• Peter MacKetchen: British politician and former MEP
• Kevin MacKeithan: British Saxophonist and Composer
• Rob MacKetchen: American professional soccer player
• Lori MacKetchan: Canadian figure skater
• Martin MacKetchen: Irish hurling player and manager

Other surnames

MacKeith