Surname McEoghan - Meaning and Origin

McEoghan: What does the surname McEoghan mean?

The last name McEoghan is a surnamethat is considered to be of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic Mac Eochaidh and located in Ulster province of Northern Ireland.

The last name McEoghan is derived from the Gaelic prefix Mac, which means “son of” and is often used in Irish surnames. The second part of the name, Eochaidh, is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word eocha, which means “horse”.

It is believed that the McEoghan family originally migrated from Scotland to Ireland in the 16th century, and it is thought that they were part of the Scottish Lowland clans who had become weary of leaving all their lands in Scotland. It is also believed that the surname McEoghan was part of the Ulster Plantation and it is known that many of its members were part of the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

McEoghan is a relatively rare surname, and it has seen a steady decline in popularity over the past few decades. However, it is still a common surname in parts of Northern Ireland.

The coat of arms of the McEoghan family is a painted shield with a brown eagle on a white background, and the McEogan family motto is "Loyaliste Avèc Vérité" which translates to “loyal with truth”.

McEoghan: Where does the name McEoghan come from?

The last name McEoghan is associated with two distinct geographical regions: County Londonderry in Northern Ireland, and Northern Galway in the Republic of Ireland. It is particularly common in County Londonderry; the McEoghan name is thought to originate from there and to have a long-standing family presence.

It is not unusual to find members of the McEoghan family in England, Scotland, Wales and Australia today, with some members of the clan who settled abroad since the mid-19th century. For example, Irish immigrants arriving in Canada often settled in New England, the Canadian Maritimes and Quebec, and many members of the McEoghan clan were among those immigrants.

In Northern Ireland, the McEoghan name is widely found in towns and villages such as Kilrea and Dromore, as well as the city of Belfast. It is also still commonly found in Northern Galway, in the Connemara region of the Republic of Ireland. Here, members of the McEoghan family can be reportedly found in the villages of Spiddal and Clifden.

Today, the McEoghan memory is kept alive in various organizations that act as a means for members of the clan to connect. For example, the McEoghan Facebook page (which is open to everyone with an interest in the McEoghan clan) has dozens of members who connect to share family news, information and photographs. The McEoghan Clan Society holds regular events to celebrate their shared heritage.

Variations of the surname McEoghan

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname McEoghan (McKeoghen, McEgan, MacKeoghen, MacEoghan) all trace their origin to the Gaelic name MacEochagain, a patronymic name derived from the personal name Eochaidh. This personal name, which also has variants such as Eochadh and Eochugar, is derived from the Gaelic elements ‘eochaidh’ meaning “horse” and ‘gar’ meaning “rough” or “violent.” The Gaelic surname also has a number of phonetically similar variants such as O’Eoghan, King, Keoghan and Kegan.

The Irish form of the surname is usually MacEochagain or O’Eochagain, the former being mainly found in County Louth, while the latter is more common outside of Ireland, mainly in Scotland. The Scottish variant of the name is McKeoghen or MacKeoghen, which is based on the Anglo-Loch form of the name and features the prefix ‘mac’ or ‘Mc’, which in Gaelic means ‘son of’ and refers to a patronymic relationship. The Gaelic spelling often included a ‘T’, as in MacEoghan or McEoghan, and this form is more common nowadays, due to modern spellings and natural pronunciation influences.

The McKeoghen spelling also has a more simplified and phonetical variant, which is MacEgan or McEgan. Thus, all these variants of the same surname, along with their different spellings, are derived from the same Gaelic root and have the same origin, which is the patronymic name MacEochagain.

Famous people with the name McEoghan

• Michael McEoghan: Michael McEoghan is a singer-songwriter from Ireland, best known for his folk and traditional-style music. He won the BBC Festival of World Music's John Peel Award in 2011 and has been nominated for a prestigious Meteor Ireland Music Award.
• Liam McEoghan: Liam McEoghan is a professional golf player who competed in several European Tour events and made a name for himself in the golfing world.
• Siobhan McEoghan: Siobhan McEoghan is a renowned Irish actress who has had a number of leading roles in television and film. She is currently starring in the critically acclaimed series, The Frankenstein Chronicles.
• Aidan McEoghan: Aidan McEoghan is a poet from Northern Ireland who has had his works published in various magazines and collections. He is known for his avant-garde style of writing and often focuses on local Northern Irish culture.
• Seamus McEoghan: Seamus McEoghan is a lawyer who specialises in international human rights and international commercial law. He has had an illustrious career as a litigator and has been involved in many high-profile cases.
• Eoin McEoghan: Eoin McEoghan is a professional jockey who has raced horses around the world, including in Europe, the United States, and Australia. He has won a number of prestigious race meets and has been acclaimed as one of the best jockeys in the world.

Other surnames

McEoghainMcEoghainn