McGahan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 


The first family to use the name McGahan lived in the area that was once the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. It is a name 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 McGahan family

The surname McGahan 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 McGahan family

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

McGahan Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of McGahan include McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more.

Early Notables of the McGahan family

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

McGahan Ranking

In the United States, the name McGahan is the 12,377th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the McGahan family to Ireland

Some of the McGahan 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.


McGahan migration to the United States +

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 McGahan were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

McGahan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

McGahan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McGahan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

McGahan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McGahan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name McGahan (post 1700) +
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