McKeough History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of McKeoughWhat does the name McKeough mean? The surname McKeough originally appeared in Gaelic as "O hEochaidh" or "Mac Eochaidh," derived from an Irish personal name "Eachaidh," meaning a "horseman." Early Origins of the McKeough familyThe surname McKeough was first found in Tipperary (Irish: Thiobraid Árann), established in the 13th century in South-central Ireland, in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from ancient times at Ballymackeogh, and were descended from the MacKeoghs who in turn were descended from their eponymous ancestor Eochaidh O'Kelly one of the ancient Kings of Ui Maine. Early History of the McKeough familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McKeough research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1534, 1653, 1725, 1798, 1828 and 1893 are included under the topic Early McKeough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McKeough Spelling VariationsNames from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name McKeough revealed many variations, including Hoey, O'Hoey, Hoy, Hue, Kehoe, Keogh, MacKeogh and many more. Early Notables of the McKeough familyAnother 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McKeough Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the McKeough familyDuring the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the McKeough family in North America: James Hoey who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1772; followed by William Hoey in 1803; Charles, Dennis, John, Michael, Thomas and William Hoey, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1877.
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