Show ContentsKechnay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Kechnay

What does the name Kechnay mean?

Kechnay comes from the kingdom of Dalriada in ancient Scotland. It was a name for a person who worked as 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 Kechnay family

The surname Kechnay 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 Kechnay family

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

Kechnay 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 Kechnay has appeared as McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more.

Early Notables of the Kechnay family

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

Migration of the Kechnay family to Ireland

Some of the Kechnay 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 Kechnay family

Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kechnay or a variant listed above: 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.



  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)


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