Surname Mac Geoghegan - Meaning and Origin
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Mac Geoghegan: What does the surname Mac Geoghegan mean?
Mac Geoghegan is an Irish surname, originating from the Gaelic Mac Eochagáin. The prefix "Mac" means "son of" and "Eochagáin" is a patronymic form of the personal name "Eochaidh," meaning "horseman." Therefore, the surname Mac Geoghegan roughly translates to "son of the horseman." The family's ancestry is closely associated with the Irish midlands, particularly in the modern county of Westmeath. The Mac Geoghegans held the chieftainship of a territory known as the kingdom of Moycashel, today still a barony in County Westmeath. Over time, many variations of spelling have emerged, including MacGeoghegan, Geoghegan, Geoghan, and more.
Order DNA origin analysisMac Geoghegan: Where does the name Mac Geoghegan come from?
The last name Mac Geoghegan is of Irish origin, specifically derived from the Gaelic Mac Eochagáin. The name refers to "son of Eochaidh," a personal name derived from "each", meaning “horse.” The Geoghegans were a powerful family in the ancient kingdom of Annaly, which included most of County Longford and parts of the surrounding counties.
While the Mac Geoghegan clan was historically centered in Ireland, the widespread Irish diaspora over the centuries has led this surname to spread around the world. Today, it's most common in Ireland, but it can also be found in countries like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, among others, where Irish ancestors emigrated to. However, it remains less common compared to other Irish surnames. Its distribution is not geographically concentrated in a specific area, but scattered in regions with Irish populations.
Variations of the surname Mac Geoghegan
The surname Mac Geoghegan is of Irish origin and its native form is Mac Eochagáin. There are variant spellings for the surname, with some of the most common being McGeoghegan, Mageoghegan, Geoghegan, and MacGoughan.
Like many Irish surnames, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" means "son of," so all variants of Mac Geoghegan essentially mean "son of Eochagán." In the absence of the Mac/Mc, the surnames simply become Geoghegan or Goughan. Over time, other variants such as MacGeoghean, MacEochagain, MacCoghlan, and MacGowen have also been used. These variations often occurred due to anglicization and regional dialect differences.
The surname Mac Geoghegan originally belonged to a Gaelic family who held large territories in County Westmeath, Ireland, with connections to other Irish surnames of the region, such as O'Malone.
It’s worth noting that while surnames may share origins or linguistic roots, they often evolved separately, reflecting unique historical and familial paths. Thus, while many surnames can be connected to Mac Geoghegan, not everyone with these surnames will be directly related or have a common ancestor.
Famous people with the name Mac Geoghegan
- Conall Mac Aogáin: Irish sports journalist and radio presenter
- David MacGeoghegan: Irish television presenter
- Dylan MacGeoghegan: Irish mixed martial artist
- Michael MacGeoghegan: former CEO of the global banking group, HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation)
- Niall MacGeoghegan: Irish broadcaster
- Neil MacGeoghegan: Irish politician
- Iain MacGeoghegan: Scottish entrepreneur
- Chris MacGeoghegan: Irish singer
- Michael MacGeoghegan: Irish footballer and manager
- Stíofán Mac Geoghegan: Irish poet