Surname MacConnechy - Meaning and Origin

MacConnechy: What does the surname MacConnechy mean?

The MacConnechy surname is of Irish origin. It is derived from Mac Conchin, which translates to “son of Conchin” in Gaelic. The Gaelic form of Conchin is Conchobhair, which is a personal name most likely derived from the Gaelic con meaning “defense, counsel” and cobar or cabar meaning “a stem” or “a line of kinsmen.” As such, the original bearer of the name appears to have been descended from a defense or line of ancestors.

The MacConnechy surname is usually found in County Dublin and in County Cork, though there are also MacConnechy families in Scotland and England. Some early bearers of the MacConnechy name include Mac Conchin (the father of Jenico, created Lord MacConnechy of Skreen in 1541), Conchobhair MacConnechy (a renowned lawyer in the 16th century), and Major-General George MacConnechy (an officer in the British Army in the late 18th and early 19th centuries).

The MacConnechy coat of arms is a shield displaying a silver lion rampant on a black background. Above the lion is a gold helm with a black and white checkered crest encircled with a gold belt. This crest symbolizes the ancient lineage and heraldic traditions of the MacConnechy family.

In short, the MacConnechy surname is a proud name with ancient Irish roots and centuries-old heraldic traditions. The original bearers of the name MacConnechy were a line of defense and counsel, and this is still reflected in the MacConnechy coat of arms today.

MacConnechy: Where does the name MacConnechy come from?

The last name MacConnechy is a sept of the Clan MacLeod of Harris and Lewis, and is found predominantly in the Hebrides islands of Scotland. Today, there are many people living in the United Kingdom with the surname MacConnechy, as well as other parts of the world with Scottish Gaelic ancestry.

At the turn of the 19th century, the surname MacConnechy was recorded mainly in the Orkney Islands, with dozens of families listed in the 1901 Census for the area. However, since then, many families have spread throughout Scotland, England, and beyond.

In more recent times, many descendants of the Clan MacConnechy have migrated to the United States, Canada, and Australia. While records of this migration can be found dating back to the 1700s, the most significant US-bound waves of immigrants from Scotland occurred between 1840 and 1930. It is estimated that as many as 4 million Scotch-Irish people moved to America during this period.

In today’s US census, there are currently approximately 400 US residents with the surname MacConnechy. Albeit small in scope, this population likely descends from families who moved from Scotland to the US sometime in the past few centuries.

The last name MacConnechy can also be spotted in various other countries, including Germany, France, and even far away places like Nepal. All of these places likely have taken on new branches of the surname in the past decade or two with those of Scottish Gaelic descent moving to more diverse parts of the world.

Variations of the surname MacConnechy

MacConnechy is an Irish surname of Scottish origin that derives from the Gaelic personal name "Conaich" or "Coinneach," which means "handsome, fair, and pleasant." MacConnechy is sometimes referred to as 'MacConachy' and even 'MacConchie'.

Other variants include "MacConchie", "McConnechy", "McConachy", "MacConnell", "McConnell" and "McConighy". The letter to "con" can also change depending on the dialect used and the spelling of the surname is not universal, so it is important to check if the spelling of the surname is correct even within the same family.

In Scotland, the surname is mainly found in the place names "MacConachy", "McConachy" "McConnechy" and in the clan name "MacConnell". In Ireland, the surname has numerous variants, including "MacConnell", "McConnell", and "McConnechy".

The most common surname spelling for MacConnechy is MacConnell, with the prefix "Mac" being the most common variant, but some combinations such as "McConnell" and "McConnechy" are also popular amongst the descendants of Irish immigrants in the U.S.

The Irish and Scottish variations of the surname can mean "son of Conaich" (MacConnell or MacConachy), or "son of Conneach" (McConnell or McConnechy).

All variations of the surname are related to the same origin, and the spelling of the surname will depend on the regional variation of the Gaelic personal name from which it derived.

Famous people with the name MacConnechy

• Cillian Mac Connechy, Irish musician
• Alexis Mac Connechy, Canadian actress
• Delilah Mac Connechy, American author
• Éamonn Mac Connechy, Irish sports broadcaster
• Eoin Mac Connechy, Irish actor
• Colin Mac Connechy, Scottish comedian
• Maeve Mac Connechy, Irish fashion model
• Eimear Mac Connechy, Irish politician
• Brian Mac Connechy, British footballer
• Maeve Mac Connechy, British visual artist

Other surnames

MacConnell