Show ContentsMacKechnie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Scotland's western coastal mountains and the desolate Hebrides spawned the line of the MacKechnie family. The name MacKechnie was originally a nickname for a /the personal names Eachan and Eochaidh. The Gaelic form of the name is usually Mac Eachainn, meaning son of Eachan. However, The surnames MacGeachie, MacGeachy, and MacKeachie are derived from the Irish surname Mag Eachaidh, an Ulster variant of Mag Eochadha, which means son of Eochaidh. [1]

Early Origins of the MacKechnie family

The surname MacKechnie was first found in Knoydart, where they were a sept of the MacDonalds, descended from Hector (Gaelic Eachann,) second son of Roderick MacDonald, 3rd of Moydart and Clanranald. [2]

Early History of the MacKechnie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKechnie research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1686, 1694, 1711, 1715, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacKechnie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKechnie Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. MacKechnie has been spelled McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKechnie family

Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKechnie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the MacKechnie family to Ireland

Some of the MacKechnie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the MacKechnie family

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name MacKechnie were among those contributors: Joseph MaKecky (McGeachie), who arrived in Virginia in 1756; Thomas McKeachie, on record in America in 1797; Thomas McKeachy, who was in Ontario in 1844.


Contemporary Notables of the name MacKechnie (post 1700) +

  • Archibald Ross MacKechnie (1895-1967), American head football coach at Mississippi State University from the 1933 through 1934 seasons
  • Ian MacKechnie, American founder of Amscot Financial, an American financial services company headquartered in Tampa, Florida in 1989
  • Arlene MacKechnie, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maine, 1952, 1956 [3]
  • Sam MacKechnie (1897-1960), former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood (1917-1918)


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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