Surname MacCaigen - Meaning and Origin

MacCaigen: What does the surname MacCaigen mean?

The surname MacCaigen is of Scottish origin and is a variant spelling of the name McCaig or MacCaig. It is a patronymic name, meaning it derives from the name of a father or ancestor. It is formed from the Gaelic elements "Mac," meaning "son of," and "Caig," a personal name of uncertain meaning and origin which is believed to be derived from "cag," meaning "to look at," or "cuag," meaning "cuckoo bird.” Presented in many spellings including MacCague, MacCaig, MacKeague, MacKeeg, MacKeag, and MacCaughan, it generally originates from the northern region of Scotland and is particularly associated with the counties of Ayrshire and Galloway. The exact meaning of the surname is not definitively known due to the uncertain origins of the personal name "Caig", it is largely considered to denote "son of Caig.” Like many surnames with Gaelic origin, the meaning of MacCaigen also depends on regional dialects and variations in spelling over centuries.

MacCaigen: Where does the name MacCaigen come from?

The surname MacCaigen is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "MacAodhagain", which means "son of Aodhagain". Another variant of the name in English is Egan. Despite being Scottish in origin, the name can also be found in Ireland as many Scottish clans moved to Ireland, especially during and after the 17th century Plantation of Ulster. The surname is not very common, hence it may not be particularly prevalent in one geographical area. Its bearers today are likely to be found spread out across regions with Scottish or Irish heritage, such as Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname MacCaigen

The surname MacCaigen is of Gaelic origin, specifically from Ireland and Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Cáidin", meaning "son of little Cathán" or "son of little battle." The name has evolved over centuries with many variations in spelling due to regional dialects, illiteracy, and different translations.

The surname has several spelling variations including: MacCay, McCain, MacCaiden, MacCaden, MacKaiden, MacCagin, MacKegan, MacKagen, MacCaggen and more. Originally, the prefix "Mac" denoted "son of," but it is often dropped in modern variations of the surnames. Therefore, simple forms like Cain, Kaiden, Cagin, etc., might exist as well.

As surnames evolved, many were anglicized, especially during the times of British colonial rule in Ireland, contributing to further variations of the name. For example, the surname MacCaigen could be anglicized to Caden, Kidney, or Kaden.

In some families, the spelling of surnames changed with each generation or even within the same generation. Therefore, the same person might be recorded with different spellings of their surname in different documents. Tracking and tracing genealogy can therefore be complex and necessitate looking at all variant spellings.

Famous people with the name MacCaigen

• Margot MacCaigen: Canadian actress, known for her acting in the television series New Amsterdam
• Rebecca MacCaigen: British actress, best known for her portrayal of Becky Watson in the television series The Inbetweeners
• Fiona MacCaigen: Scottish actress, known for her roles in films such as Bonded by Blood and Special Ops
• Cathy MacCaigen: British actress, who has been seen in television shows such as EastEnders and Holby City
• Alan MacCaigen: Former Canadian politician, who served as Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver-Kingsway from 2011 to 2015
• Skylar MacCaigen: American actress, known for her roles in films such as Aliens in the Attic and Anatomy of a Love Seen
• Murdoch MacCaigen: Scottish actor, known for his portrayals of Colin McAllister in Outlander and Jamie O'Hara in Father Brown
• Molly MacCaigen: American actress, seen in films such as The Fault in Our Stars and The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Angus MacCaigen: Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of Dr. John Langley in the historical drama Mercy Street
• George MacCaigen: Scottish-born actor, known for his roles in films such as The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and War Horse

Other surnames

MacCaig