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![Show Contents]() MacGeehan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the MacGeehan family in Ireland was Mac Eogain in Connacht, and Mac Eoin in east Ulster. Both of these names connote a "son of John," or "son of Owen." 1 Early Origins of the MacGeehan familyThe surname MacGeehan was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where the first people to use this surname are thought to have originated. Soon thereafter, the name was also found in neighboring Leitrim. Early History of the MacGeehan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacGeehan research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacGeehan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. MacGeehan Spelling VariationsThe recording of names in Ireland during the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. Since the general population did not know how to read or write, they could only specify how their names should be recorded orally. Research into the name MacGeehan revealed spelling variations, including Keon, MacKeon, MacKeown, MacKewan, MacKoun, MacWing, Hone, MacOwen, Mageown and many more. Early Notables of the MacGeehan familyMore information is included under the topic Early MacGeehan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the MacGeehan familyIn the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the MacGeehan family came to North America quite early: Samuel and William Keown, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1855; James and Thomas Keon arrived in Philadelphia between 1860 and 1877..
- Moore, A.W., Manx Names. London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1906. Print
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Ireland
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