Surname McEachan - Meaning and Origin
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McEachan: What does the surname McEachan mean?
McEachan is a Scottish surname, originating from the Gaelic language. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Eachan", which itself is a diminutive form of "Each" meaning "horse". So, the name McEachan essentially means "son of the horseman". Many Scottish and Irish surnames begin with "Mac" or "Mc", both of which denote "son of". Surnames like these were initially used to distinguish between different individuals with the same first name in smaller communities. Different variations of this surname exist due to different phonetic spellings over time and location. Thus, McEachan is a name pertaining to a lineage or descendent of individuals who were likely horsemen or horse breeders by profession.
Order DNA origin analysisMcEachan: Where does the name McEachan come from?
The surname McEachan is of Scottish origin. It primarily originates from the western part of Scotland and the Hebrides islands. The prefix "Mc" means "son of", so "McEachan" roughly translates to the "son of Eachan". Eachan is derived from the Gaelic name "Eachdonn", which means "horse brown". Thus, the original bearers of this surname possibly belonged to a family noted for their horsemanship, or it could have been a personal name of an ancestor.
The McEachan surname, like many other Scottish surnames, spread to other parts of the world, especially countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to migration and the Scottish diaspora. These names were often modified to fit the phonetics of the new country, so there may be several variations of the name. Today, the surname McEachan is not extremely common but can be found in these countries, with a higher concentration potentially in places with significant Scottish heritage.
Variations of the surname McEachan
The surname McEachan is originally a Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic words "Mac Eachainn", meaning "son of Eachann", where "Eachann" translates to "horse lord" in English.
There are several variants and alternative spellings of the surname McEachan due to its Gaelic origin and translations. Some of these include MacEachen, MacEachan, MacEachin, McEachen, and McEachin. Other less common variations may include McCeachen, MacEchan, MacKechnie, and MacGeachie.
It is also possible to find variations of the surname without the prefix "Mac" or "Mc", such as Eachan or Eachen.
Since the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" signifies "son of", female variants may include NicEachan, where "Nic" indicates "daughter of".
The surname has diffused over time geographically leading to more variations. Due to emigrations from Scotland particularly during the Highland Clearances, you can find versions of the surname in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
As with many surnames, over the centuries spelling and pronunciation may have changed, leading to further variants. It's also worth noting that spelling variations often occurred even within a single document on the same person.
Famous people with the name McEachan
- Michael McEachan: Former professional ice hockey player who played for the Minnesota North Stars and several other teams throughout a 16 year career.
- Billy McEachan: Scottish professional footballer who played for Saulwick United, Aberdeen, and Leicester City.
- John McEachan: Former Canadian politician, mayor of Glandford, Ontario from 1973-1974, and a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1977-1987.
- Frank McEachan: Director of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, from 1903-1915.
- Chris McEachan: American actor, best known for his role as Marty Puccio in the 2004 Hollywood horror film House of Wax.
- Gary McEachan: British photographer, best known for his work with international airlines and commercial photography.
- Robert McEachan: British professor of design and media production and director of facilities at King's College London.
- Bryan McEachan: South African cricketer who has represented Northerns and Northern Transvaal.
- John McEachan: Scottish footballer who has played for West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, and several other teams since beginning his professional career in 2009.
- Stewart McEachan: Canadian-born professional baseball player who has represented teams in both the United States and Canada since beginning his career in 2008.