Surname McKachen - Meaning and Origin
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McKachen: What does the surname McKachen mean?
The surname McKachen is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic MacAichein, which is derived from the personal name Aodh (anglicized as Hugh), a diminutive of the older name Aodhagán. The name Aodhagán is composed of two elements; Aodh, which means “fire” and “céin” meaning “skilful or noble”.
The surname appears to have first appeared in Scotland during the 12th century as a result of the influx of settlers from Normandy and England, such as the Lords of Galloway and lands around Stranraer. The surname is more common in some parts of Ireland and is sometimes translated to Mackenzie, which suggests a connection between the two surnames.
In Scotland, the surname has several spellings such as MacKachen, McKeachan, McKagan and Mackeachan, as well as Mackay, MacKay and Mackeay. It is a popular surname in Scotland, particularly in the region of East Lothian around Haddington and in the Highlands around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Throughout history, people with the surname McKachen have been notable for their skills in law, engineering, medicine, commerce and other fields. For instance, Thomas Chiesman McKachen was a prominent Glasgow shipbroker and insurance broker who became Sheriff of Glasgow in 1891, and John McKachen, a prominent Glasgow dentist and member of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKachen: Where does the name McKachen come from?
McKachen is an Irish surname originating from the Gaelic Mac Cathain. It is most often found in County Down, Northern Ireland, although there are some other scattered occurrences in the Ulster and Connacht provinces. During the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century, many members of the McKachen clan were displaced from their original homeland in Ulster and spread out throughout Ireland and beyond.
Today, McKachen is particularly common throughout Northern Ireland. Although there is a great diaspora of the name, the highest concentration is still found in County Down. It is also elsewhere in Ireland and in many places around the British Isles such as Scotland, England, and Wales. It is also present in small populations throughout Norway, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.
In the United States, the vast majority of McKachen families are found in the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. It is believed that the first of these families arrived during the mid-19th century, mostly Irish immigrants in search of work in the blossoming lumber and mining industries in the area.
Regardless of where they may be found today, the descendants of these Irish immigrants still honor their ancestral origins and proudly bear the name McKachen.
Variations of the surname McKachen
The surname McKachen can be spelled as MacKachen, McChachen, and MacChachen. It can also be spelled as MacKachen, MacChachen, MacKachon, and MacKacen.
The surname McKachen is an offshoot of several different Irish names, most notably MacCathain (also seen as MacCachan). It derived from the first name Cathain, which was thought to be a younger form of Cathal, meaning “battle ruler.” The name might also have been adopted to indicate one’s geographical association with the Kingdom of Connacht. Another explanation is that some bearers of the name claimed descent from Ui Cacht, one of the most important royal families of early Ireland.
The spelling variations of the surname McKachen are thought to arise from a combination of two Gaelic words, mac, meaning “son of,” and Cachain, “devotee.” In addition to its various spellings, McKachen is also recorded as MacKahen, MacKachen and MacKayhen and is often associated with alternate surnames such as Carmohill, Carnahan, MacCagy, MacFee, Mackahane, MacKerley, MacKerr, and MacStravan.
Given the wealth of possible variations and alternate spellings, those tracing their heritage to the McKachen surname are encouraged to explore its various forms and how these forms have been used throughout history.
Famous people with the name McKachen
- Murray MacKachen: Murray MacKachen was a professional surfer with the known nickname of ‘Muzza’, making waves in the industry for his daring and wild surf styles.
- Doug MacKachen: Doug MacKachen is an American multi-instrumentalist and recording artist, primarily in the genres of folk, rock, and jazz.
- Jim MacKachen: Jim MacKachen was a professional ice hockey player from Canada. He played in the National Hockey League from 1969 to 1981 and was a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
- Clare MacKachen: Clare MacKachen, an American-born artist and designer, is known for the development of textured-surfaces and public art installations.
- Lyle MacKachen: Lyle MacKachen is an American professional golfer who won four PGA Tour events.
- Tyrone MacKachen: Tyrone MacKachen is an American musician, best known for his time in rock group Audioslave as their lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist.
- Judson MacKachen: Judson MacKachen is an American actor and film director whose work includes his breakout role in the Academy Award-winning film Network.
- Patrick MacKachen: Patrick MacKachen is an American actor and former child star, best known for his roles in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle and the TBS original series Who Gets the Last Laugh?