Surname McEachen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McEachen: What does the surname McEachen mean?
The surname McEachen is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic name "Mac Eachain" which means "son of Eachan." Eachan itself is a personal name derived from two Gaelic words - "each" meaning "horse" and "an" a diminutive suffix. Thus, the literal meaning of Eachan is ‘little horse’. Consequently, the surname McEachen might imply ‘son of one with horse-like qualities’ or 'son of the horseman'. The name is particularly common in the Western Isles region of Scotland. Over the years, the spelling variations have included McEachan, McGeachan, McKeichan, McKechnie, and many others. Like many Scottish families, the McEachens have their own family tartan and coat of arms.
Order DNA origin analysisMcEachen: Where does the name McEachen come from?
The surname McEachen is of Scottish origin. Specifically, it is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Eachain, meaning son of Eachan. Eachan itself is a Gaelic personal name, composed of the elements "each," meaning horse, and "donn," meaning brown.
The surname McEachen, like many other Scottish surnames, was first found in Knoydart, located in the former county of Inverness-shire, now part of the Council Area of Highland. The McEachens were part of the larger Clan Donald, a historic Scottish clan with roots dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries.
Today, the surname McEachen is found most often in countries that have seen significant Scottish immigration. Despite part of the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, which resulted in the forced displacement of many Scottish Highlanders, the name has continued to be prevalent in Scotland. However, it is also relatively common in other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, due to the Scottish diaspora. People with the surname McEachen in these countries are generally descended from Scottish emigrants.
Variations of the surname McEachen
The surname McEachen has a rich heritage and it originates from Scotland. The name itself implies 'son of Eachann,' where 'Eachann' is a personal name derived from the Gaelic 'Eachuinn' meaning 'horse' and 'donn' meaning 'brown.'
The surname has multiple variants owing to regional and linguistic differences. The variations include McKechnie, MacEachan, MacEachin, MacEachen, Maceachen, MacKechnie, MacGeachie, M’Geachin, M’Kichane, and M’Kechane among others. McKeigan, and Mackechan are other versions. Anglicized forms of the name exist like Mackechan, Makechan, and McEachin.
Accents, pronunciation, and even immigration have led to different spellings of the surname. Some have dropped the 'Mc' prefix to become Eachen or Eachin. Some spellings include MacKeachen, MacKichan, MacKaig, MacKeegan, and MacKeighan. Phonetic variations due to dialects and accents also gave rise to Eaken, Ekin, Ekins, and Eager.
While 'Mac' typically means 'son of', the variations of McEachen can also include 'O', which means 'grandson of,' or 'descendant of', so it's possible to come across surnames like O'Eachan or O'Kechan, though such versions are less common.
It's important to note variations and alternative spellings often link to the same familial roots thus, they broadly fall under the 'McEachen' surname umbrella.
Famous people with the name McEachen
- George McEachen: Former US Congressman
- Els McEachen: Canadian painter
- Duncan McEachen: Motorcycle racer
- Ezra McEachen: Former NHL hockey player
- Margaret McEachen: Writer and editor of the journal Nature
- Madeline McEachen: Canadian musician and composer
- Chris McEachen: Extensively published mountain guide
- Ruth McEachen: French Canadian radio host
- Stephen McEachen: Canadian actor and director
- Laura McEachen: American writer and health coach