Surname MacAughan - Meaning and Origin

MacAughan: What does the surname MacAughan mean?

The surname MacAughan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eachain" which means "son of Eachan". Eachan is a personal name composed of the elements "each", meaning horse, and "an", a diminutive suffix. Thus, MacAughan can be interpreted as "son of the horseman". This name is predominantly found in County Antrim, in Northern Ireland. Like many Irish surnames, it can be spelled in various ways including MacEachan, Eachan, and MacEchan among others. Over the centuries, the name has been Anglicized, leading to numerous variations in its spelling and pronunciation. Individuals with the MacAughan surname have a rich Celtic heritage and the name signifies a historical, familial connection to the region of Northern Ireland.

MacAughan: Where does the name MacAughan come from?

The surname MacAughan is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the personal name Eachan, which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Eachdonn, meaning "horse lord". The prefix "Mac" in Scottish or Irish names means "son of", so MacAughan can be interpreted as "son of Eachan".

MacAughan is not a common surname, and it can be found but sporadically dispersed around the world. As with many surnames of Scottish origin, it may be more common in areas with a significant Scottish diaspora such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. People with this surname can certainly be found in Scotland and Ireland. However, in order to determine the exact current geographical distribution of the surname MacAughan, specialized genealogical research would be necessary. Simply based on the origins of the name, one could suggest that the name might be more prevalent in areas such as the Scottish Highlands, but this would not account for migrations and displacements over the centuries.

Variations of the surname MacAughan

The surname MacAughan might have several variants or spelling variations owing to its Gaelic origin, cultural shifts, traditional spellings, or even transcription errors. Some of these include MacCahan, MacCaghan, MacGahan, McCahan, McAughey, McCaughan, McCahan, MacCaughey, McCoughan, MacGaughey, McAughan, McCaughney, McCahaney, Magcan, Maghen, etc. It's important to note that these variations might point to a common ancestral origin, but can also just reflect a similar phonetic interpretation.

The surname is primarily found in Northern Ireland but can also be found amongst the Scottish diaspora. It's typical for Gaelic names to include the prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc', indicating 'son of'. In this case, the name likely means 'son of Aodhán', with 'Aodhán' being a diminutive of 'Aodh', meaning ‘fire’ or 'fiery one' in Gaelic. Over time, immigration and passaging led to a multitude of spellings of the same original surname, leading to the numerous variations seen today.

Famous people with the name MacAughan

• Adam MacAughan: American film producer and actor, best known for his role as a consultant on the hit TV show, "The Big Bang Theory"
• Colin MacAughan: Scottish actor, most known for his role in "Outlander"
• Liam MacAughan: Irish actor, recipient of multiple IFTA awards
• Leona MacAughan: British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
• Alexander MacAughan: English composer and multi-instrumentalist
• Siobhán MacAughan: Irish journalist, recipient of the National Union of Journalists award
• Niamh MacAughan: Irish athlete, competed in the 2016 Olympics
• Gregor MacAughan: Scottish-Canadian actor, recipient of a Golden Globe Award
• Seana MacAughan: English actor, best known for her role in the theater production of “Romeo and Juliet”
• Brid MacAughan: Irish artist and author, well-known for her best-selling novel, “The Forsake”

Other surnames

MacAughneyMacAughtrie