Surname McCaghey - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McCaghey: What does the surname McCaghey mean?
The surname McCaghey is of Irish origin, meaning "son of Eochaidh." The name Eochaidh itself is derived from old Irish elements "each" meaning "horse" and "aidh" meaning "fire," hence the name is often interpreted as "horse of fire" or "fiery horseman." Like many Irish surnames, its spelling can vary, including forms such as McCaughey, McKeogh, and MacKeogh. It is popular in the provinces of Ulster and Leinster. Despite its rich history, the McCaghey surname is not a very common name, even in its country of origin. However, those who bear it often have historical ties to Ireland and can trace their lineage back to the ancient Celts.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCaghey: Where does the name McCaghey come from?
The last name McCaghey is of Irish origin. Part of a broader group of surnames derived from the personal name Eachaidh or Eachaidhe, McCaghey typically means "son of Eachaidh." Eachaidh itself is traditionally believed to mean "horse rider". Given the linguistic and cultural history of Ireland, the name has varied spellings including McCaughey, MacCaughey, and McKeaghy. These variations have been seen in different regions at different times.
While these names were once very common in Ireland, especially in Ulster, the passage of time and immigration patterns have spread bearers of the name all around the world. Today, McCaghey and its variations can be found in many English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the UK. However, it is not exceedingly common in any one place. The name’s relative rarity and variations in spelling make it difficult to track, but it endures as a distinctive reminder of Irish heritage and history.
Variations of the surname McCaghey
The surname McCaghey is of Irish origin, originally spelled as “Mac Eachaidh” in Gaelic, which means "son of Eachaidh."
There are several variants and spellings of this name due to anglicization, migration, translation errors, and phonetic spelling. Variants and spellings of McCaghey can include: MacCaughey, McCaughey, McKeigh, MacKeigh, McCaughey, MacEachaidh, McAughey, McCaughey, McKeoh, MacKeoh, McKeggie, MacKeggie, McKeogh, MacKeogh, McKehoe, MacKehoe, Mckeagh, Mccaughey, Mckeag, Maceachthighearna, and Mckeachie.
The surnames can be regional due to various families having settled in different areas, and thus resulted in different spellings. This is not a comprehensive list, and more spellings and variants might exist.
The surname has also been recorded with prefixes such as 'Mac', 'Mc', and 'O'', indicating "son of" and "descendant of." In some cases, these prefixes might have been dropped or added over time, leading to even more variations of the surname.
For the same reason, patronymic forms where 'Eachaidh' has been transformed into English equivalent 'Hector' are also plausible like McHector or MacHector.
Famous people with the name McCaghey
There seems to be relatively few famous individuals with the surname "McCaghey." The main notable person who comes to mind is actually a group of people: the McCaughey septuplets. They made international headlines in 1997 when they became the world's first set of surviving septuplets. The septuplets were born to Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey in Des Moines, Iowa. In total, they had seven children: four boys and three girls. Despite numerous health concerns and the risks associated with such a high order multiple birth, all the McCaughey septuplets survived infancy and have since grown into adulthood. The family attracted significant media attention both at the time of their birth and in the years since. However, I am not aware of any other famous individuals with the surname "McCaghey." It's worth noting that the spelling of surnames can vary widely, and it's possible there may be notable figures with variations of this surname.