Surname McCawhan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McCawhan: What does the surname McCawhan mean?
The surname McCawhan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Catháin" which translates to "son of Cathán". Cathán itself is an old Gaelic personal name, comprising of two elements: "cath", meaning 'battle', and the diminutive suffix "án", so it can be inferred that the name Cathán means 'little battler' or 'little warrior'. Therefore, someone with the surname McCawhan could be understood to be a 'descendant of the little warrior'. However, surnames can have multiple origins and interpretations and may vary based on regional and historical use. It's also important to note that many Irish surnames were anglicized during the 17th & 18th centuries, which can further complicate accurate interpretations. Therefore, people bearing the last name McCawhan may not necessarily identify with such traditional meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCawhan: Where does the name McCawhan come from?
The surname McCawhan appears to be of Scottish or Irish origin. The "Mc" prefix usually denotes "son of" in Celtic surnames, thus suggesting that McCawhan could mean "son of Cawhan." However, the exact origin and meaning are not clearly recorded and may be subject to further genealogical research. It is also possible the surname underwent various spelling changes over the centuries, which is common amongst Gaelic names.
Today, there are relatively few people with the McCawhan surname, making it relatively uncommon. Like many Celtic names, it could be found in places globally where the Scottish and Irish diaspora have settled, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There's no specific region or country where it's particularly common today, according to available public records. However, further detailed genealogical or census-based research could reveal more about specific concentrations of people with the McCawhan surname.
Variations of the surname McCawhan
The surname McCawhan is of Irish origin and is relatively rare. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic "Mac Eachain," which translates to "son of Eachan." Eachan is a personal name meaning "horse" in Gaelic.
There are several different spellings and variants of McCawhan due its phonetic transcription from Gaelic to English. These include McEachan, McKechnie, McGeachie, McGeachin, McGeachy, McKeichan, McKeich, McKechan, McKeachan, McKechny and McKechnie. Further variations may be found where the prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' is absent, such as Kechnie, Keachie, Kechin, or Eachan.
It's important to note that the differentiation of surnames within Ireland was largely influenced by regional dialects and individual interpretation. Therefore, the variations in spelling are typically due to the phonetic Anglicization from the Gaelic original names. Some additional variations that may be associated with the McCawhan surname could potentially be 'Cahan', 'Cohan', 'Mccohan' although these versions might be less common.
The surname McCawhan and its variants would originally be associated with different families, as it meant 'son of Eachan'. There are likely many McCawhan families who are not directly related due to the widespread use of the name among unrelated families. As such, establishing direct familial connections solely based on the surname could be challenging.
Famous people with the name McCawhan
- Brendan McCawhan: Actor known for roles in films such as Mean Girls and Zodiac
- Mia McKenna-Bruce: Actress known for roles in films such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Womb
- Bryan McCawhan: American singer-songwriter
- Lindsay McCawhan: Jazz musician and vocalist
- John McCawhan: Northern Irish footballer
- Isla McCawhan: British Actress known for roles in films such Candlelit Christmas and Secrets of the Moon
- Kenneth McCawhan: Renowned English poet, playwright, and novelist
- William McCawhan: Former American politician who was a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives
- Eliza McCawhan: Singer-songwriter who was part of the girl group The Fates in the 1980s
- Ross McCawhan: American Actor and Producer, known for roles in films such as American Pie and Sydney White