MacGeecghan History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of MacGeecghanWhat does the name MacGeecghan mean? The MacGeecghan family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name MacGeecghan is derived from /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 MacGeecghan familyThe surname MacGeecghan 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 MacGeecghan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGeecghan research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1686, 1694, 1711, 1715, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacGeecghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. MacGeecghan Spelling VariationsMedieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. MacGeecghan has been written as McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more. Early Notables of the MacGeecghan familyAnother 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGeecghan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the MacGeecghan family to IrelandSome of the MacGeecghan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the MacGeecghan familyThe descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name MacGeecghan or a variant listed above include: 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.
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