Surname MacCaskie - Meaning and Origin

MacCaskie: What does the surname MacCaskie mean?

The last name MacCaskie is a Scottish surname originating from the Gaelic MacCasgaig and MacThomais. The Mac prefix indicates a patronymic origin, indicating relationship to a common ancestor. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic personal name Maghthomais or MacThomas.

Surnames beginning with Mac or Mc have been adopted by many clans throughout Scotland, and MacCaskie belonged to several different clans in different parts of Scotland. It can be found in the eastern and northern highlands and the Western Isles, where it is associated most often with the MacKay and MacLeod clans. There are many variants of the name, such as MacThomais, Macaskie, MacCasky, and MacCassie.

The name is derived from the ancient Gaelic elements "magh", meaning 'plain' or 'field' and "Thomaidh" meaning 'twin'. The surname refers to someone who originated from or who lived near a field of twins. Though the exact origin of the name is not known, it is thought that it could signify a person who owned land in two different places that were adjacent to each other.

Today, the MacCaskie surname is found in Scotland and many other countries throughout the world due to immigration and emigration over the centuries. It is most common in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. Those with the MacCaskie surname are part of a proud legacy of nobility, strength, and kinship which connect them to their Scottish roots.

MacCaskie: Where does the name MacCaskie come from?

The last name MacCaskie is of Scottish origin. It is most common today in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and Northeastern England. The MacCaskies were believed to have originated in Inverness and were recorded there from the 12th century. In Scotland, the name is particularly associated with the counties of Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Morayshire.

The MacCaskie name is derived from a Gaelic word meaning ‘son of here’ or ‘son of the casket’. The term casket usually referred to a wooden chest or box, so the surname may suggest a descendant of a person who made wooden chests or boxes. It was an occupational surname most likely derived from a trade associated with the earning of a living.

In terms of population, MacCaskie is still among the most common surnames in Scotland. A significant number of the population bearing the name are found in areas of Scotland with a significant presence of Scottish Gaelic-speaking people. For example, the Isle of Skye has had a large population of MacCaskies since the late 19th century. The variant spellings of MacCaskie, McCaskie, and MacKaskie, all also quite common in Scotland.

The name is also to be found in parts of the United States and Canada. A significant presence of the name is found in cities and towns in Ontario, and also in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and other parts of northern America.

Variations of the surname MacCaskie

MacCaskie is an anglicised variant of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Asceis, meaning "son of Askis." Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include MacAsceis, MacAskeis, MacAskies, MacCauskie, MacCasseis, MacCesseis, MacEaskey, MacEaskie and MacKaskie.

MacCaskie is related to similar Gaelic languages, such as Irish and Manx. The Gaelic language is a branch of the Celtic language family which is still spoken today in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man.

MacCaskie is a common Scottish surname. It is believed to have originated in Scotland in the late 13th century, and became more widespread with the Highland Clearances of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when many of the traditionally Gaelic-speaking Highlanders were forcibly evicted from their land, and pushed to migrate elsewhere.

MacCaskie is also found in some Irish and American records, likely immigrants from Scotland. Some Irish immigrants would have used Mac Asceis as their combining form when forming the family name in America.

MacCaskie can be pronounced differently depending on the region. In Scotland, MacCaskie is usually pronounced mak-CAS-key. In Ireland, it is often pronounced mak-KAS-kee, and in America the surname is sometimes pronounced mak-CAS-kee.

Famous people with the name MacCaskie

• Andrew MacCaskie: British zoologist known for his foundational work in fish pathology.
• Douglas MacCaskie: Scottish minister and writer.
• Iain MacCaskie: New Zealand First World War veteran and author.
• James MacCaskie: Scotland international rugby union player.
• John MacCaskie: English artist and art historian.
• Joseph MacCaskie: Canadian entrepreneur in the clothing and fur trade.
• Kenneth MacCaskie: Canadian politician and former mayor of Ottawa.
• Murdo MacCaskie: Scottish footballer who played professionally in the Premier League and Football League.
• Patrick MacCaskie: Canadian politician and former Minister of Municipal Affairs for the Province of Ontario.
• Robert MacCaskie: British historian who served in the Royal Navy during World War II.

Other surnames

MacCaskill