Surname Mac'fighearnain - Meaning and Origin
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Mac'fighearnain: What does the surname Mac'fighearnain mean?
The last name Mac'fighearnain is derived from the Gaelic phrase Mac Fhicheadharnain, which translates as "son of (the) Twenty Chiefs." This name is most commonly associated with the Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie, an illustrious family from the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
The Maclaine of Lochbuie trace their ancestry back to the 13th century, when the Maclaine chiefs were established as Lords of the regions of Cowal, Lorn and Mull. Maclaine is a hereditary chief of the MacDonalds, representing the Gaelic name Mac Dhomnuill Mhic Dhomnuill, meaning 'son of Donald, son of Donald'.
The Mac'fighearnain surname first appears in records in the form of the “Claymore” designation, referring to the sword typically associated with Clan Maclaine. This suggests that the surname is related to the pre-existing Maclaine name, with some spelling variations later occurring as the name was passed down from generation to generation.
Today, Mac'fighearnain is known as both an Irish and Scottish surname, found primarily in the northern parts of Scotland and in County Mayo, Ireland. It is recognised as a patronymic surname, meaning 'son of' in the Gaelic tradition. The Maclaine of Lochbuie line of descent is still in existence, with the current Lochbuie chief, Sir Ian Maclaine of Lochbuie, the 27th clan chief, being the most well known member of the family.
Order DNA origin analysisMac'fighearnain: Where does the name Mac'fighearnain come from?
The surname Mac'fighearnain is a rare one today, and is typically associated with Scottish and Irish families. Despite its historic prevalence in these two countries, it is rarely found in birth and marriage records today and has, for the most part, gone extinct.
The last name Mac'fighearnain is derived from the Gaelic Mac Fhígh-earnain, which means ‘son of the well-born one’. Historically, the name belonged to a small group of ethnic people called ‘Filidh’ or bards who served as poets and historians of the past. Over time, the name became scattered and fragmented, fueling the decline of its use over the centuries.
Though the surname is not widely used today, it is still encountered in small numbers in certain parts of Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland it is found in the area between Skye and the Outer Hebrides, in the old county of Lewis and Harris, and in the outer edges of Glasgow and Edinburgh. In Ireland, it is most frequently found in County Wexford, particularly the Rosslare area, and to a lesser degree, other areas of Leinster.
Today, those with the surname of Mac'fighearnain are often members of the great extended families of the past, such as the Chiefs of the Islands and nobility, or individuals descended from them. For the most part, the surname is rare and can only be found amongst the closest relatives of those individuals.
Variations of the surname Mac'fighearnain
The Mac'fighearnain surname has a number of alternative spellings and variants, depending on the language or dialect used when referring to the name.
'Mac'fighearnain' is an Irish surname, derived from the Irish Gaelic Mac an Fhiachnain which translates to “son of the hawk of the church”. The Latinised version is Mac Fiachna, or Mac Fíachain, which is pronounced “mahk fie-uh-khaw-n”.
In the United States, the spelling ‘MacFeggan’ is commonly used, while in England, ‘MacFegan’ and ‘McFeggan’ are more common.
Other variants include 'Mac'Fegan', 'Mac'Feagan', 'Mac'Feaghan', 'Mac'Feachan', and 'Mac'Fechan'. These vary mainly in the spelling and pronunciation of the 'Fe' part of the surname.
Similar surnames include Mac'Feinson, Mac'Phie, Mac'Fhibis, Mac'Phiona, and Mac'Philleamhain, which all contain mac', meaning 'son of', and are all derived from the same source.
In terms of related surnames, there are Mac'farlane, Mac'farlane, and Mac'Pharlane, all of which are derived from the same Gaelic source. Similarly, the Mac'Finlaine and Mac'Finlon surnames derive from an original form of Mac‘fighearnain with an ‘l’ or ‘r’ replacing the ‘g’.
Overall, the Mac'fighearnain surname has had many spellings and variants over the years, from its original Irish Gaelic form to its more Americanised spelling MacFeggan.
Famous people with the name Mac'fighearnain
- Fergus MacFhearchar: 16th century Hebridean Bard
- Angus MacFhearghain: 19th century Scottish Minister and Gaelic Poet
- Father Allan MacFhearghain: 18th century Irish Roman Catholic Priest and Gaelic Poet
- Dr. John MacFhearghain: 20th century Scottish Psychiatrist
- Alexander MacFhearghain: 4th century Scottish Scholar and Poet
- Joseph MacFhearghain: 20th century Scottish Historian
- Alban MacFhearghain: 17th century Scottish Gaelic poet
- Domhnall MacFhearghain: 16th century Gaelic poet and scholar
- Anne MacFhearghain: 20th century Scottish Singer-Songwriter and Folk Musician
- Jane MacFhearghain: 20th century Scottish Painter and Sculptor