Surname MacCaghan - Meaning and Origin
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MacCaghan: What does the surname MacCaghan mean?
The surname MacCaghan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Eacháin, which translates to "son of Eachán". Eachán itself is a diminutive form of the name Eachaidh, meaning "horse". So, the general interpretation of this surname could be "son of the horseman" or simply "horseman". This surname signifies a lineage associated with someone who was a horse rider or who kept horses, indicating a profession or occupation. However, as is common with most surnames, the exact meaning can vary based on different family histories and lineages. Surnames often serve to indicate a family's location, occupation, or a memorable event in their history. It's also important to note that the spelling of Irish surnames has changed considerably over time due to Anglicization, so MacCaghan may have several variations including McCahon, McCaughan, and others.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCaghan: Where does the name MacCaghan come from?
The surname MacCaghan is of Irish origin, coming from the Gaelic "Mac Eacháin," which means "son of Eachán." The personal name Eachán is a diminutive of each, meaning 'horse', so MacCaghan can also be interpreted as “son of the little horseman.” This surname falls in the category of patronymic surnames, which are derived from the given name of the father or another male ancestor of the bearer.
This surname has several variations including MacCaghan, McCaghan, MacCagon, McCagon, and more. Like many Irish surnames, it has likely spread to various parts of the world, especially to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and England, where many Irish people migrated, particularly during the time of the Great Famine in the mid 19th Century.
Today, as data on the distribution of the specific surname MacCaghan seems to be scarce, it's difficult to point out where exactly it is common. However, it is reasonable to assume this surname may be more prevalent in places with a significant population of Irish origin.
Variations of the surname MacCaghan
The surname MacCaghan is of Irish origin and it has several different spellings, variants, and surnames from the same root. This surname has been anglicized over time, resulting in a multitude of variant forms. Some of the possible spellings and variants for MacCaghan include McCaghan, MacCagan, M'Caghan, MacCahan, McCagan, MacCageen, and even its original Gaelic form "Mac Eacháin", which means son of Eachan.
Other related surnames include MacEachen, MacGeachan, MacKeegan, which display a phonetic resemblance. Surnames such as Maccagno, Maccagni, or Maccagnani are Italian versions that seem to be etymologically unconnected.
These names are derived from the personal name Eachan, composed of the elements each, meaning 'horse', and the diminutive suffix -an, hence 'small horse'. This surname also has been linked specifically to County Derry / Londonderry in Northern Ireland and the greater Ulster area.
It's important to mention that due to the various challenges in translation, record keeping, and spelling standardization, surnames used to change frequently and many possible variants of the same surname could exist. Regardless of how it's spelled, all these variants usually share the same ancestry or origin.
Famous people with the name MacCaghan
- Nadia Maccaghan: American actress
- John MacCaghan: Irish journalist and broadcaster
- Jodie Maccaghan: British actress
- Paul MacCaghan: Canadian politician
- Mariah MacCaghan: Canadian singer and songwriter
- John MacCaghan: Irish physicist
- Sarah MacCaghan: British fashion model
- Michael MacCaghan: American professional hockey player
- Gregory MacCaghan: American physician
- Gary MacCaghan: American artist