Surname McGeachy - Meaning and Origin

McGeachy: What does the surname McGeachy mean?

The surname McGeachy is of Scottish origin and it is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mac Eachaidh. In Gaelic, 'Mac' translates to 'son of', and 'Eachaidh' is a personal name derived from 'each' meaning 'horse'. Therefore, McGeachy can be interpreted to mean 'son of the horseman'. The family associated with this surname is believed to be descended from the ancient Pictish-Scots and resided in Argyll, Scotland. Different variations of the surname McGeachy include McGeachie, McGeachy, McKeachie, and Mackechney among others. Like most other surnames, McGeachy travelled across borders, with families bearing the name settling in various countries including Canada, the United States, and Australia throughout history.

McGeachy: Where does the name McGeachy come from?

The surname McGeachy originates from Scotland, specifically from the Gaelic language. The name can be traced back to the Scottish Highlands and its historic clan society. The name is derived from the Gaelic word ‘MacNeachdainn’, which means ‘son of Neachdainn’ or ‘son of Eachdonn’. McGeachy, like many Scottish surnames beginning with "Mc" or "Mac," signifies familial relation or descent.

Today, it is most commonly found among populations in Scotland, Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. These countries saw a significant influx of Scottish immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries when many Scots moved overseas in search of better opportunities and escaped economic hardships at home. It is not one of the more widespread or common Scottish surnames, but you can find McGeachy families in areas which have traditionally had high levels of Scottish immigration.

Variations of the surname McGeachy

The Scottish surname McGeachy is derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eachaidh," which means "son of Eachaidh," a personal name equivalent to Hector. The surname has evolved over centuries and has numerous variants, alterations, and alternative spellings. These include but are not limited to McEachen, McEachern, McGeachie, McGeachin, McGeaghy, McKeich, McKeachie, McKechnie, M’Geachy, M’Keache, Magechy, and Mckechney. Other related surnames could be spelled as Mackechney, Mackeachan, McKichan, and MacGiollaEachaidh.

Many MacEachens were Anglicized to MacKenzie, especially on the Isle of Skye, as in some dialects Eachan is a diminutive form for Coinneach (Kenneth), and MacCoinnich is the Gaelic form for Mackenzie. This complicates tracking the lineage based on the surname alone. Migration, education, and regional differences have also contributed to the differences in spelling and pronunciation. Local officials often recorded names as they sounded which led to considerable variations. All these surnames are part of the greater Clan MacDonald and are most commonly connected with the Scottish Highlands and Hebridean Islands. New variants may also exist due to emigration and adaptation in non-English-speaking countries.

Famous people with the name McGeachy

• Ian McGeachy: the English cricketer who was selected for the Scotland cricket team to play in the 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament, and made more than 100 appearances for the national side.
• James McGeachy: the Scottish footballer who spent his playing career at Hibernian FC, winning the Scottish League Championship and Scottish Cup with the club.
• Duncan McGeachy: the prolific actor, director, and producer who starred in a number of BBC Scotland television shows, later establishing his own production company, engaged on a range of documentary films, commercials, and drama projects.
• Mark McGeachy: the saxophonist and composer from Scotland, who was awarded the Jazz Musician of the Year award in 2003 from the Royal Scottish Society of Arts.
• Peter McGeachy: the Canadian lawyer and politician who served in the conservative federal government of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
• Robert McGeachy: the Canadian surgeon who pioneered the practise of neurosurgery in the province of Nova Scotia, and helped establish the Halifax Medical College in the province.
• Barb McGeachy: the Canadian author and cartoonist, best known for her work in the Canadian Aboriginal magazine Native Voices.
• Katherine McGeachy: the Canadian politician from Alberta, who was the first female mayor of the city of Edmonton.
• Maureen McGeachy: the Canadian businesswoman and entrepreneur, who established the award-winning clothing designer, McGeachy Leather Designs, and numerous other retail businesses.
• Jenna McGeachy: the British actress and voice-over artist, whose voice can be heard in animated films, video games, and television advertisements.

Other surnames

McGeachie