Surname McCohan - Meaning and Origin

McCohan: What does the surname McCohan mean?

The surname McCohan is derived from the Irish Mac Conchobhair (or Mac Conchúbhair). This name derives from the Old Gaelic personal name Conchobhar, meaning “wolf-lover” or “lover of hounds”, and is primarily seen in Co. Cavan. Historically, the McCohan family was a branch of the great O'Cannon family, where their ancestors took on the surname following the 12th century Norman Conquest.

The McCohan family were a sept of the Crowley clan and one branch of the O'Cannon chieftains. During the 17th century, the family served as Gaelic-Irish soldiers and were among the most influential clans of the time. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the McCohan family served under the O'Neill and McDonnell dynasties. They were also known for their loyalty and military prowess.

The McCohan family was also heavily involved with the Irish Rebellion of 1641, a revolt against English rule in Ireland that lasted about two years. They fought hard against the English and eventually gained recognition for their programming and tactics.

Today, the McCohan family is still seen in parts of Ireland and Scotland. Although their exact lineage and pattern of migration are unknown, family records can be traced to the 19th century in such places as Co. Cork, Co. tyrone, and Scotland. Although McCohan is not a common surname, it is still in use today and is still associated with the proud and loyal legacy of their ancestors.

McCohan: Where does the name McCohan come from?

The last name McCohan is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. In England, Scotland and Wales, there are 535 people living with the last name McCohan. In Northern Ireland, there are 71 people with the name McCohan.

The last name McCohan is also found throughout the United States and its territories. There are 4,842 people living with the name McCohan in the United States. The highest concentration of the name is in the states of New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

Outside of the UK and United States, there are 648 people living with the last name McCohan in Canada, 412 in Australia, 186 in South Africa, 127 in Ireland, and 12 in New Zealand. In general, it appears that last name is not as common in other parts of the world.

The McCohan name is derived from an old Gaelic word, "Mac Comhann," which translates to "son of Comhan." Comhan is an Irish surname and is derived from a name meaning "hollow" or "valley." This may refer to a family who originally lived in a low place or who built a settlement in a valley.

Overall, you can find the last name McCohan in various parts of the world. The highest concentration is found within the United Kingdom and the United States, though there are also significant numbers of people with the name McCohan in parts of Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname McCohan

The surname McCohan, is derived from the Irish Mac Conchobhair, and is found in both Irish and Scottish records. It is an anglicized form of an old Gaelic name, composed of the elements "mac," meaning "son of," and "conchobhair," a personal name composed of the elements "cu," meaning "hound," and "cobhair," meaning "desiring". Variants, spellings and surnames vary according to dialect, location, and history.

Common variants of the name include: Mac Coan, Mac Cohan, MacCohon, Mac Cohorn, Mac Conachan, Mac Conaghan, Mac Conachon, Mac Concohran, Mac Concoughan, MacConochar, MacConocher, McCahon, McCohon, and MacKonachan.

Variations of the name have also been found in Scotland, particularly in the Lothian region where, as "Mac Cahan" or "Mac Coan," the family was amongst the most powerful Landowners in the Barony of Lauderdale.

Other variations of the surname, which are not necessarily of the same origin, are Cochran, Concehrin, and Coughran.

As the surname McCohan is an Anglicized version of a Gaelic name, it can take the form "McHohan," McOhan", or "McHohon," when spelled in its original Gaelic form. This can also be seen in the spelling of some Irish versions of the name where the letter "c" is found instead of a "k" in the original prefix, "Mac."

The spelling of the surname can also differ according to which dialect is used. In Northern Ireland, where the language is Irish Gaelic, the surname is usually spelled as "McCoghehan," or "McCoghane," while in the Republic of Ireland, it is usually spelled as "McKohane," or "McKohane." This is mainly due to the influence of the Scottish Gaelic form of the name.

In any case, the McCohan surname is derived from an old Gaelic name, and can be found in many different spelling and surname variations, though they are all related to or rooted in the same origin.

Famous people with the name McCohan

• Peter McConnel: Australian composer and pop musician.
• Robert McConnel: American professional golfer.
• Moira McConnel: English artist.
• Bill McConnel: American politician.
• Evan McConnel: American actor.
• Harold McCohan: American actor and voice artist.
• Brendan McCohan: American skateboarder.
• Joel McCohan: American singer-songwriter.
• Pat McCohan: American basketball player.
• John McCohan: guitarist and composer.
• Joseph McCohan: Scottish composer.
• Thomas McCohan: Irish artist and sculptor.
• Kevin McCohan: American actor.
• Kelly McCohan: American author.
• Kristy McCohan: professional golfer.
• Samuel McCohan: Canadian-American professional hockey player.
• Beverley McCohan: British author, journalist, artist.
• Sean McCohan: American comic artist.
• John McCohan Jr.: American actor.
• Joseph Francis McCohan: American politician.

Other surnames

McCohen