MacKekny History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe MacKekny family finds its ancestral home among the rugged mountains and sea-swept Hebrides islands of Scotland's west coast. In that area, once known as the kingdom of Dalriada, MacKekny evolved 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 MacKekny familyThe surname MacKekny 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 MacKekny familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKekny research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1686, 1694, 1711, 1715, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacKekny History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. MacKekny Spelling VariationsIn the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. MacKekny has appeared as McEachan, McGeachan, McKechnie, McGeachie and many more. Early Notables of the MacKekny familyAnother 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKekny Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the MacKekny family to IrelandSome of the MacKekny family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the MacKekny familyAncestors 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 MacKekny 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.
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