Surname MacConechie - Meaning and Origin
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MacConechie: What does the surname MacConechie mean?
The last name MacConechie is of Scottish origins, deriving from the ancient Pictish clans of Scotland. It is derived from two Gaelic words, 'mac' and 'conaich', which together mean 'son of Conaich'. Conaich is a personal name derived from the element 'con' meaning 'hound' or 'wolf', and for whom the original holder of the MacConechie surname was likely nicknamed.
The MacConechie clan can trace its origins to the seaside village of Symington, Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is prevalent in this particular area, being most established in South West Scotland, with additional pockets in far-flung locations throughout the British Isles such as England, Wales and Ireland.
The MacConechie clan was never particularly powerful within Scotland, and they remained subordinate to the more established clans from the region such as the MacFarlane and the MacDonalds. The clan was involved in Scottish politics in very different ways however, being an active force in the Stewart dynasty which occupied the throne of Scotland between 1371 and 1714.
Today, the MacConechie name is still used in Scotland and throughout much of the United Kingdom, and a few prominent members of the clan can be found scattered around the world. At present, most MacConechies trace their heritage back to South West Scotland, and are part of a proud Scottish heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMacConechie: Where does the name MacConechie come from?
The MacConechie surname is most commonly found in Scotland, particularly in and around the Argyll region in the west. The surname is known to have descended from a clan of the same name, which has been traceable in Scotland since around the 13th century, although there is evidence that the clan may have existed in the area since as far back as the 9th century.
The clan may have descended from Hengist and Horsa, two warriors who invaded Britain in the 5th century AD. The name may derive from the Gaelic ‘Mac Conaich’, meaning ‘son of the wolf’. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the MacConechie clan were powerful property owners in Argyll, though their influence and family holdings declined as the larger clans grew in power.
Today, the surname is relatively rare, although there are still some descendants of the clan living in Argyll and other regions of Scotland. The surname is also in use outside of Scotland, in areas where members of the clan have emigrated over the centuries. For example, MacConechies have made their mark on other countries in Europe, Australia, and the United States.
Variations of the surname MacConechie
The surname MacConechie is derived from the Scottish Gaelic MacConeachie - commonly referred to as MacGonigal or MacConnechy. The root of this surname is Mac Conaich or Mac Conaigh - which means "son of Conaich". It is believed that the original bearer of the name was a man named Conaich, a descendant of the sept of Mac Conaich, an ancient Scottish royal family of Perthshire.
The earliest known variations on the surname are recorded in the 13th century. The variants include "'MacConnechy,' MacGonigal' MacGonagall, MacGonnechel, MacGonochel, MacGonigall, MacConachey, MacConechery, MacConechie, and 'MacKonochel". These variations can also be found in the spelling of MacConecho, MacConecie, Macceinigh, MacGonnigal, MacGonical, MacConneghy and McKonochel.
Some less common variations of MacConechie are also found in Ireland and Canada. They include Macnaughten, MacAnochie, and MacAnaugh. In Ireland MacConechie is also occasionally written as MacAnochie or McAnochie, while MacConnery is an Anglicization found in the United States. Sometimes these surnames are mistaken as belonging to other ancestral families due to the similarity in sound to other Gaelic or Irish names.
The spelling of MacConechie, however, is still predominant in Scotland today and is quite common in some areas. People with this surname are mainly associated with the McConochy clan, a once powerful Highland clan.
Famous people with the name MacConechie
- Rob MacConechie: Royal Canadian Navy Brigadier-General and the first Naval Member of the Canadian Joint Staff in London.
- Peter MacConechie: British politician who served as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1987 to 1989.
- Alex MacConechie: Canadian actor, known for his roles in the films "Tideland" and "Sutherland".
- Donald MacConechie: British actor best known for his role as Abbot of St. Albans in the BBC series "Father Ted".
- John MacConechie: Award-winning Canadian poet and playwright.
- Andrew MacConechie: British singer-songwriter and musician, member of the folk-rock duo The MacConechie Brothers.
- Margaret MacConechie: Canadian painter best known for her landscape works.
- James MacConechie: British actor and voiceover artist, known for his role in the television series "Bad Sugar".
- Thomas MacConechie: British engineer, best known for his involvement in the development of the transatlantic telegraph cable.
- Lachlan MacConechie: Australian rugby league player who played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.