Show ContentsMcKeachnie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McKeachnie is /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 McKeachnie family

The surname McKeachnie 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 McKeachnie family

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

McKeachnie Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McKeachnie has appeared as McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more.

Early Notables of the McKeachnie family

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

Ireland Migration of the McKeachnie family to Ireland

Some of the McKeachnie 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 McKeachnie family

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McKeachnie were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown: 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 McKeachnie (post 1700) +

  • Gayle McKeachnie (b. 1943), American Republican politician, Lieutenant Governor of Utah, 2004; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Utah, 2004 3


  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 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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