Surname McGough - Meaning and Origin

McGough: What does the surname McGough mean?

The last name McGough is of Irish origin and it is an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic name "Mac Eochaidh". This surname combines the Gaelic prefix "mac", meaning "son of", with the personal name "Eochaidh", which is composed of the elements "each", meaning "horse", and "aidh", meaning "fire". Thus, the whole surname can be roughly translated as "son of the horse of fire". It is also interpreted as "son of Eochaidh". The Eochaidh were considered to be a noble and distinguished family line in Ireland, with their lineage traced back to ancient Irish kings. This surname is most prevalent in Northern Ireland. As with many Irish surnames, variations of spelling can include McGoff, McGeough, and MacGeough among others.

McGough: Where does the name McGough come from?

The surname McGough is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic Mag Eochadha, which means "son of Eochaidh," a personal name based on the word "each" signifying a horse. Majority of the families who bore this surname originated from the county of Tyrone in Northern Ireland, although the name can be found in various regions throughout the country. As a result of widespread Irish diaspora, you can now find the McGough surname common in many parts of the English-speaking world, especially in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK, as well as in Ireland itself. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the surname may have diverged into different spellings over time, e.g., McGoff, McGeough, or McGeogh, due to a combination of anglicization and regional dialects. Nonetheless, these variations still point back to their shared Gaelic origin.

Variations of the surname McGough

The surname McGough has Gaelic origins and is derived from the Irish name Mac Eochaidh, meaning ‘son of Eochaidh’. Other variants of the name can include McGeough, McGeogh, McGow, McGowan, MacGeough, MacGeogh, and M'Geough.

Due to its Irish origins, there are also anglicized versions that have appeared. These can include Mageough, MaGough, McGuff, Mageogh and McGoff. Some of these originated due to spelling errors in immigration documents, or as a way to simplify the spelling. The 'Mc' prefix in the name is often interchangeable with 'Mac'.

It's worth noting though, the surnames can vary greatly due to regional dialects and phonetic spelling, and they can be further transformed by translation between different languages.

For example, the name Eochaidh, from which McGough originates, translates to 'Horse Rider' or 'Horseman', but this meaning has largely been lost in modern usage becoming instead tied to family lineage. Meanwhile, surname McGowan has a similar spelling but originates from a different Gaelic name Mag Gabhann, meaning 'son of the smith'. Despite similarity, it's therefore not a variant of McGough. So, some research may be necessary to confirm specific lineage for individual surnames.

Famous people with the name McGough

• Roger McGough: a British poet, performer, broadcaster, and children’s author. He first came to prominence as one of the leading members of the Liverpool Poets.
• Clifford McGough: an American actor, screenwriter, and television producer. He is best known for his role in the television series, Falcon Crest.
• Henry G. McGough: an American lawyer and philanthropist. He was the CEO and Chairman of the McGough Companies, a leading engineering and construction organization in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
• Ann McGough: an English cricketer who has represented England at the international level. She is also the head coach of the England women’s national team.
• John McGough: an English footballer who currently plays for Warrington Town.
• Paul McGough: a British comedian, actor, and television writer, who is known for his comedy shows, including QI, Mock the Week, and Have I Got News for You.
• Patrick McGough: an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League.
• Elizabeth McGough: an American lawyer, lobbyist, and policy analyst. She is the senior vice president of government affairs at the American Heart Association.
• Maureen McGough: an Irish poet, fiction writer, and playwright. She has been a long-time member of Aosdána, the Irish academy of artists.
• David McGough: a Scottish biographer and literary editor. He has written extensively on the Victorian poet Robert Browning and other writers of the period.

Other surnames

McGouganMcGourty