Surname Caugherty - Meaning and Origin
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Caugherty: What does the surname Caugherty mean?
The last name Caugherty is of Irish origin and comes from the anglicized version of the Gaelic name 'Mac Ochtair.' The literal meaning of this Gaelic name is 'son of Octar' or 'son of Otto.' It is believed that the name was first used by the O'Connor clan, who were of ancient Gaelic nobility and the Kings of Connacht, and they were descended from the legendary High King of Ireland, Conn Cétchathach.
In the old Gaelic language, the name Caugherty means “the brave one” or “strong fighter.” The Caugherty family was renowned for its hereditary courage, bravery and strength. This prestigious lineage makes the Caugherty surname now popular in most parts of the world, especially in North America, Ireland, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe.
The Caugherty surname is also associated with ambition and hard work. This hard-working spirit and determination is influenced by their Gaelic warrior ancestors, considering that they lived by a code of honor that required that their word be sacrosanct. This is an example of how family names and surnames are deeply connected with the spirit and values of their descendants, and how the Caugherty surname remembers the long and proud history of their Irish roots.
Order DNA origin analysisCaugherty: Where does the name Caugherty come from?
The last name Caugherty is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., the highest concentration of the surname can be found in Maine and Pennsylvania, including the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. However, small numbers of the surname are surfacing in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Oklahoma as well.
In Canada, the surname is most commonly found in Quebec and Ontario. The cities of Ottawa and Toronto have some of the highest concentrations of Caughertys in the nation.
Apart from the United States and Canada, the surname Caugherty appears in a handful of other countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. However, the incidence rate of the name in these countries is significantly lower than that of the United States and Canada.
Regardless of location, the surname Caugherty is still fairly uncommon. Its origin is believed to have come from the name Mac an Bhreitheamhnaigh, which is common in parts of County Donegal near the border of northern Ireland.
Variations of the surname Caugherty
The surname Caugherty is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Eachthighearna or Mac Tírecharna, which was anglicized into MacCaugherty, MacGaughey, and MacGough. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include McCaughey, Caughey, McCough, McGaughey, Gaughey, Gough, MacGoughry, Kaugher, Kaughey, Kough, McCaughery, and McGough.
The earliest recorded appearance of the Caugherty surname is in County Wexford, Ireland. It can be found in the Irish surname book by Edward Mc Corghey, where the name is said to be derived from an Irish chieftain known as Tighearnán Mac Eachthighearna (917-958). The name was passed down through generations of his descendants.
In the 1700s, many Caughertys emigrated from Ireland to the British colonies of America, notably Tennessee and North Carolina. Some of these immigrants have anglicized the spelling to Cauley, Cawley, Kala, and Kahley, or combined it with other surnames like Bailey, Davis, Young, and Morrow.
Caugherty is also found in Scotland, particularly the area of Glasgow, where it may be an anglicized form of the Gaelic surnames MacCock or MacGachie. It may also have descended from Scottish settlers in Ireland, who had come before the Great Scottish migration of 1690s.
As more Irish immigrants spread across the world, the Caugherty name has attained global fame. Today, it is found in many areas of the world, including America, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Caugherty
- Sean Caughey: Comedian, Actor, TV Host.
- Shane Caughey: Pop Culture Expert.
- Paul Caughey: retired professional ice hockey player.
- Christopher Caughey: professional football player.
- Robert Caughey: former long time minor league baseball player.
- Brady Caughey: professional rugby player.
- Rachel Caughey: Governor & CEO of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
- David Caughey: movie producer.
- Treva Caughey: environmental and sustainability consultant.
- Nathan Caughey: former high school basketball coach.