Surname McCaughn - Meaning and Origin
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McCaughn: What does the surname McCaughn mean?
The last name McCaughn is of Scottish origin and is thought to be a variant of the name McCaughan (or MacCaughan). It is believed that the family name is derived from the Gaelic MacEachain, which translates to English as ‘son of Eachan’. Eachan was an ancient Pict name, likely derived from the Welsh name for ‘horse’, and is thought to refer to a warrior or horseman.
The spelling of the name in Ireland was Mac Eachain, as it usually remained unaltered, however in Scotland, it became McCaughn or McCaughan. It is quite likely that the McCaughns travelled from Ireland to Scotland to escape religious persecution as these Scottish spellings are relatively recent. The name then spread through Scotland, moving southwards through the Lowlands and evolving further along the way. It is suggested that the McCaughns arrived in Scotland around the 16th century.
Nowadays, the name can be found in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. It is a relatively uncommon name, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting. To this day, the legacy of brave Pict warriors journeys through the last name McCaughn, which carries with it fond memories and a spirit of strength, courage, and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCaughn: Where does the name McCaughn come from?
The last name McCaughn is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It has an Irish and Scottish origin derived from the Gaelic language. The name itself is the Anglicized spelling of the Gaelic surname Mac Eachain or Mac Eacan, “son of Eachan”.
In modern day Scotland, McCaughn is a relatively common surname. According to a 2017 study, McCaughn ranks 256th out of the 5000 most common surnames in Scotland, and is an especially common name in the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, throughout the United Kingdom, the surname is most common in northern and coastal parts of Scotland including areas such as Inverness, Stranraer and Ayrshire.
McCaughn is also found in other parts of Europe, particularly Scandinavia and the Netherlands, where it is usually spelled MacFaghnen, McFaughan, or MacFahun. However, due to the large diaspora of Scottish and Irish people, it has started to appear in other places across the world including Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Overall, the surname McCaughn is a relatively common name in the UK and parts of Europe, with its roots in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is slowly gaining precedence in other parts of the world due to the influx of people from countries of origin.
Variations of the surname McCaughn
The variants, spellings, and surnames associated with the surname McCaughn can vary greatly, depending on the origin. In Scotland, the most common variant is MacCaughan, and it is suggested that the name may derive from the Gaelic Mac Eachainn, which in turn means “son of or descendant of Eachann”. This is often Anglicised as MacCaughan, indicating a close relationship between the Scottish and Irish origins.
In Irish origin, the most common variants are Caughan and McCaughan. It is suggested that McCaughan is an anglicisation of the Irish surname O Caithain, which in turn could mean “descendant of Caithan” or “descendant of Cathan”.
Other variants of the surname McCaughn include MacCahan, MacCaan, and MacCain; each of these variations are also derived from the same Gaelic origins. In addition, there are other variations such as McCain, MacKean, MacCord, Mackordan, McCord, McCurden, McCorden, and many others.
In England, the surname is sometimes spelled as Mackean, Maccon, or Makon. No matter the spelling or origin, the surname McCaughn is a very old and common part of the Irish and Scottish history and culture.
Famous people with the name McCaughn
- Conor McCaughn: He is an Irish actor best known for his role as Archie Simms in the movie Shell.
- Robert McCaughn: He is an American actor who has appeared in films such as Elf (2003) and Bruce Almighty (2003).
- Peter McCaughn: He is an American politician from Oregon who served as a state legislator for the 25th district.
- Jay McCaughn: He is an American guitarist and the main songwriter for the alternative rock band Motion City Soundtrack.
- Andrew McCaughn: He is an American computer scientist and the inventor of the HyperTransport Protocol.
- J. P. McCaughn: He is an English actor known for roles in the television series Dead Set and the films Alien Autopsy (2006) and Me and Orson Welles (2008).
- James McCaughn: He is an American musician known for being the bass player for the rock band Emily's Army.
- Judy McCaughn: She is an American model and actress who has appeared in films such as The Great Gatsby (1974) and Firestarter (1984).
- K. L. McCaughn: He is an American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Redskins.
- Caroline McCaughn: She is an American singer-songwriter who released the albums Carolina Blue (2009) and Young Eyes (2014).