Surname McKeogh - Meaning and Origin
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McKeogh: What does the surname McKeogh mean?
McKeogh is an Irish surname, which can also be spelled as MacKeogh, Keogh, or Keog. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eochaidh," which translates to "son of Eochaidh." The personal name "Eochaidh" is formed from the elements "each," meaning horse, and "aodh," denoting fire. Hence, McKeogh can be interpreted as "son of the horse rider." This surname originates from the ancient Irish clan, MacEochaidh, with strong roots in counties Kildare and Wexford of Ireland. Over the centuries, many phonetic variations of the surname emerged due to changes in the Irish language, translations, and interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKeogh: Where does the name McKeogh come from?
The surname McKeogh is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Eochaidh," which translates to "son of Eochaidh." The name Eochaidh itself is composed of elements meaning “horse” and “rider.” The McKeoghs originally hail from the province of Leinster, located in the East of Ireland.
The surname has seen several variations and spellings throughout its history, including Keogh, MacKeogh, and even Kehoe. This is largely due to the transition from Gaelic to English, where phonetic translations were often used.
Today, the surname McKeogh, like many Irish surnames, has spread across the world due to emigration. It occurs in countries that have seen significant Irish immigration historically, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. However, it remains most common in Ireland, particularly in and around the province of Leinster where the clan originally held power.
Variations of the surname McKeogh
The surname McKeogh, mainly found in Ireland, has several possible variants and spellings due to the transliteration from the original Gaelic to English and further changes over time. These can include McKeogh, McKeough, McGeough, McGeoghegan, McGeogh, MacKeogh, MacKeough, MacGeough, M'Keogh and M'Geough.
There also are surnames that are not exact variants but have a similar origin or meaning to McKeogh. One such surname is Geoghegan, from 'Mac Eochagáin', meaning 'son of Eochaidh'. Another is Egan, derived from 'Mac Aodhagáin', meaning 'son of Aodh'. Both Eochaidh and Aodh are old Irish personal names.
Besides, due to the common phonetic transcription, the surname Keogh could be seen as a relative. It is crucial to note, however, that variations in surnames occurred even within families in earlier times due to illiteracy or changes in dialect, hence, utilization as a reliable genealogical tool can be challenging without extra corroborating evidence.
Famous people with the name McKeogh
- Tommy McKeogh: Irish youth international soccer player
- Andy McKeogh: Australian soccer player
- Dermot McKeogh: Irish Fine Gael politician
- Stan McKeogh: former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Terry McKeogh: Irish international rugby union player
- Bill McKeogh: former American football safety
- Vida McKeogh: Professor Emerita of Nursing at Trinity College Dublin
- Andrew McKeogh: Irish attorney and author
- Eoin McKeogh: Irish former rugby union player
- Christine McKeogh: Irish writer and former journalist