Show ContentsMacEachern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name MacEachern is a nickname for a person who was skilled in the riding of horses or who owned many horses. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Eachthighearna, which translates as son of the horse-lord. [1]

Early Origins of the MacEachern family

The surname MacEachern was first found in Kintyre, where "on the shaft of the cross at Kilkerran near Campbeltown, is the inscription: Hec est: crvx: Coleni: Mc: Heachyrna: et Katirine: uxoris: eivs (Drummond, Sculptured monuments of Iona, pl. lxxxi). This is probably Colin MacEachern who was chief of the Macecherns in 1499." [1]

Early History of the MacEachern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacEachern research. Another 188 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1499, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1512, 1515, 1541, 1596, 1605, 1647, 1659, 1662, 1682, 1684, 1694, 1769, 1788, 1798, 1801, 1806, 1814, 1818, 1847, 1849 and 1888 are included under the topic Early MacEachern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacEachern Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. MacEachern has appeared in various documents spelled MacEachern, MacEachen, MacEachan, MacEachin, MacEachren and many more.

Early Notables of the MacEachern family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Evan MacEachen (1769-1849), Gaelic scholar, born at Arisaig, Invernessshire, in 1769, was educated in a school at Ruthven, near Keith. He was sent in 1788 to the Scots College at Valladolid, where he was ordained priest in 1798. On his return to the mission he was stationed at Arisaig. In 1801 he was removed to Badenoch...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacEachern Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the MacEachern family to Ireland

Some of the MacEachern family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States MacEachern migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

MacEachern Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Archibald MacEachern and his wife Jean, who settled in New York State with the children in 1738
  • Donald MacEachern and his wife Anne settled with his child in New York State in 1738
  • Patrick and his wife Mary MacEachern, who settled in New York in 1738

Contemporary Notables of the name MacEachern (post 1700) +

  • Diane MacEachern, American author, public speaker, entrepreneur, and conservationist
  • Jared MacEachern, American musician, best known as a singer and rhythm guitarist of the American heavy metal band Sanctity
  • Angus Bernard MacEachern (1759-1835), Scottish Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church, the 1st Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Charlottetown on August 11, 1829
  • Stephen Neil "Steve" MacEachern (1894-1974), Canadian politician, Mayor of Saskatoon (1941-1943)
  • James "Buddy" MacEachern, Canadian fisherman and politician who represented Cape Breton Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly (1974-1981)
  • William M. MacEachern (b. 1930), Canadian jurist and politician who represented Inverness County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly (1974-1981)
  • Shane MacEachern (b. 1967), retired Canadian NHL ice hockey center who played for the St. Louis Blues in the 1987-1988 season
  • John Duncan MacEachern (b. 1946), Canadian former educator and politician who represented Cape Breton East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1988 to 1998
  • David "Eli" MacEachern (b. 1967), Canadian Olympic gold and silver medalist bobsledder at the 1996 and 1998 Winter Olympics


The MacEachern Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per mare per terras
Motto Translation: By sea and by land.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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