Surname MacAitchen - Meaning and Origin
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MacAitchen: What does the surname MacAitchen mean?
The surname MacAitchen is of Scottish origin and is a variant of the name MacEachan or MacEachin, which themselves are Anglicised forms of the Gaelic name Mac Eachainn. This name translates to "son of Eachan". Eachan is derived from the Gaelic elements "each" meaning "horse" and "an" which is a diminutive suffix. Therefore, the name Eachan can be translated to "little horse". Thus, the last name MacAitchen could be interpreted to mean "son of the little horse." However, like most surnames, it is primarily used for the purpose of familial distinction and its ancient meaning may no longer hold much relevance or awareness among its bearers. Furthermore, surnames often underwent significant changes in spelling and form due to various factors such as translation between languages and dialects, phonetic spellings, and regional accents, making their origins and meanings subject to debate.
Order DNA origin analysisMacAitchen: Where does the name MacAitchen come from?
The surname MacAitchen is of Scottish Gaelic origin. It is a variant of the surname MacEachen, deriving from the Gaelic Mac Eachainn meaning "son of Eachann". Eachann is an old traditional name composed of two elements, each meaning ‘horse’ and donn meaning ‘brown’. It could be loosely translated as ‘brown horse’.
Historically, the MacEachen family is associated with the Scottish region of Argyll. Clan MacEachan or MacEacharn were in Kilellan and Kilblaan in Cowal, and there was also a kindred in Kintyre distinguished in Gaelic by the term Clann t-Shealgair ‘Children of the Hunter’.
Today, like most Scottish surnames, MacAitchen could be found anywhere in the world due to the widespread Scottish diaspora. Consequently, it might be encountered in places where Scottish people have historically migrated, such as North America, Australia, and New Zealand. However, exact data about the current distribution of this particular surname is not readily available, likely due to its rarity.
Variations of the surname MacAitchen
The surname MacAitchen has Scottish origins. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Eachain, which translates to "son of Eachan". Eachan itself is derived from "each", meaning horse, and "an", a diminutive suffix, so the name typically means "son of the horseman".
This surname has numerous variations in its spelling due to different historical contexts, transcription errors, and the phonetic nature of Gaelic language. Variations include MacEachen, MacEachin, MacEachan, Maceachen, MacEachern, and MacEachran.
Moreover, the Anglicised form McCaughan is common in Northern Ireland. Other variations include McKechnie, McGeachie, Mckeichean, Mckaichan, Mckechnie, and Mckeachie which are seen predominantly in the west of Scotland.
Additionally, some variations drop the Mac or Mc prefix, resulting in spellings like Eachern or Eachen.
However, it is important to note that while these names have similar origins and spellings, genealogical research is necessary to establish a direct connection between these surnames. Cultural, geographical and historical factors have significantly influenced the evolution of surnames, hence the spellings might have varied over time and location.
Famous people with the name MacAitchen
- John MacAitchen: a Scottish rugby union player who has represented the Scotland national team in 2010.
- Helen MacAitchen: an English netball player who competed for the English national team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
- Jamie MacAitchen: a Scottish cricket player who captained Scotland in several international tournaments.
- Alexander MacAitchen: a Canadian actor known for his roles in TV shows such as Glee, Supernatural, and Emily Owens, M.D.
- Paul MacAitchen: a Northern Irish footballer who played for Linfield and Norwich City.
- Cameron MacAitchen: a British swimmer and Paralympic athlete who competed in the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games.
- Mark MacAitchen: a Scottish bridal couture designer who has designed dresses for celebrities and royal families.
- Murray MacAitchen: a former footballer who represented Scotland in the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
- Maggie MacAitchen: a sculptor and painter who exhibits galleries in the United States and Europe.
- Allister MacAitchen: a Scottish curler, who competed in several international tournaments.