Show ContentsMacKeachy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of MacKeachy

What does the name MacKeachy mean?

Scotland's coastal mountains and Hebrides islands were known in ancient times as the kingdom of Dalriada. The name MacKeachy evolved there as a nickname 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 MacKeachy family

The surname MacKeachy 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 MacKeachy family

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

MacKeachy Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents MacKeachy has been spelled McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKeachy family

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

Migration of the MacKeachy family to Ireland

Some of the MacKeachy 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 MacKeachy 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 MacKeachy 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.



  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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