Surname MacKeogh - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKeogh: What does the surname MacKeogh mean?
The last name MacKeogh (also spelled MacKeough, MacKeagh, MacKeagh, and McKeegh) is a patronymic surname of Irish origin.
The name was originally found in County Down in the northeastern part of Ireland, and is derived from the personal name Eochaidh, (the Gaelic version of the Old Norse name Eirikr) with the addition of the prefix 'Mac', which is Gaelic for 'son of'.
The prefix was commonly used to identify sons and descendants of the original bearer of the given name. This is in contrast to other Irish surnames, which are mostly derived from the occupation of the original bearer of the name or from a location in Ireland.
As has been the case with many Irish surnames, there have been varying spellings of the last name over the centuries including variations such as 'MacEogh', 'MacKeogh', 'MacKeah', 'MacKeath' and 'McKeegh'.
The name MacKeogh is known to have been borne by a number of prominent figures in Irish history. These include Lord John MacKeogh, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland in the 18th century, and two MPs of the same name in the 19th century, Sir John MacKeogh and John MacKeogh.
Today, the name is still widely represented by Irish families living in Ireland as well as those of Irish ancestry living abroad around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKeogh: Where does the name MacKeogh come from?
The surname MacKeogh is most common today in Ireland. In Ireland, in the 1896 census MacKeogh was the 159th most common surname. Within County Clare it had a rank of 25th. In the 1821-51 Irish censuses, it was most numerous south of Ennis, the county town of Clare, and in the eastern half of the County Limerick.
The MacKeogh surname has spread to other countries, particularly due to emigration, and is now found in parts of Europe, North America, and Australia. In countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, the surname is much less common, though data is limited as the spelling can vary according to different dialects.
Clans with this surname can trace their lineage back to the chiefs of Fetherdeala (modern day Feakle), an area in east Clare. Chiefs of Fetherdeala had their origin in the O'Connor clan from County Galway in the 12th century. Different coats of arms and genealogies exist among MacKeoghs, one of which is a blue shield with a beech tree with two wild boars looking in opposite directions.
Variations of the surname MacKeogh
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname MacKeogh all come from the Irish name MacEochaidh. This name is derived from the word "eocha", which refers to a horseman or horse rider. One of the earliest recorded spellings of the name is MacEchoy in 1290 AD. It also appears in the Annals of Clonmacnoise in the year 1201 as MacEyohaig and MacEochaidh.
MacKeogh is one of the modern spellings of the name, and other variants include McKeogh, MacEochaidh, MacEogh, MacKee, MacKoy, MacGee, and MacEoghain. Variants with completely different spellings can also be found, such as McKaughey, McKechney, McKeoghane, McKaggy, MacKuchy, and MacQughin.
The surname can be found in countries all over the world, as the result of Irish emigration. Some of the most common surnames associated with MacKeogh are Kuchy, McGee, and MacEoghain in the United States, MacKeogh in Canada, Mackouchy in Ireland, McKoughe in Scotland, Makucha in Poland, and McKoechney in England.
No matter the spelling, all of these surnames can be linked back to the Irish origin of MacEochaidh and serve as reminders of the strong cultural and linguistic ties that bind the Irish people.
Famous people with the name MacKeogh
- Jesse Kaye MacKeogh: Jesse is a Canadian actress, writer, and director. She is known for her roles in the television shows “Designated Survivor” and “The Good Witch”.
- Jamie MacKeogh: Jamie is a Scottish actor who is best known for his roles in the television series “Sherlock” and “The Walking Dead”.
- Joe MacKeogh: Joe is an Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He is a member of the pop rock band The Script.
- Mary MacKeogh: Mary is an Irish concert harpist and composer. She has released multiple recordings and is a member of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
- Loana MacKeogh: Loana is a French film producer and independent filmmaker. She is the founder of the Peacock Production Company and has produced films such as “The World Is Not Enough”, “Catwoman” and “Hanna”.
- Pete MacKeogh: Pete is an American author and radio personality. He is the host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show “The Big Picture with Pete MacKeogh”.
- Kaylee MacKeogh: Kaylee is an American songwriter and producer. She is also the frontwoman of the Los Angeles-based indie rock band bAbA.
- Mark MacKeogh: Mark is an Australian former professional rugby union player. He played for the Western Force from 2006 to 2008 and was a member of the Australian national team.