Surname MacKighan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKighan: What does the surname MacKighan mean?
The surname MacKighan seems to be of Scottish origin, though it's not a common or well-documented Scottish name, making it a bit challenging to trace conclusively. "Mac" is a common prefix in Scottish and Irish surnames which means "son of."
However, the part "Kighan" is difficult to associate with a definitive and specific meaning, due to inconsistent spelling variations in history making it difficult to trace exact origins and meanings.
It is also possible that "Kighan" derived from a Gaelic word. For example, it could possibly be a variant of the Scottish name "Keegan," which in Gaelic is "Mac Aodhagáin," meaning "son of fire", but this is speculative.
Please remember that surnames can be subject to significant changes over centuries and might have different meanings in different cultures and languages.
For an accurate understanding of your specific surname and its history, a full genealogical study would be recommended tracing lineage back to determine a more exact origin.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKighan: Where does the name MacKighan come from?
The surname MacKighan is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eacháin" which translates to "son of Eachán." Eachán itself is a personal name composed of the elements "each" meaning horse and "án" a diminutive formative. So, Eachán equates to something like 'Little Horse.' The name likely originated from the Scottish Highlands before spreading to other regions through migration and marriage.
Today, the name is rare and not commonly found in any specific region. Many people with Scottish heritage have dispersed around the world, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. So, it is possible that the MacKighan surname can be found in these countries and others with significant populations of Scottish descendants. Exact locations of prevalence are hard to determine due to the rarity of the name.
Variations of the surname MacKighan
The surname MacKighan is of Scottish or Irish origin and can be spelled in a variety of ways. Some of these include McKeegan, McKeaghan, McKegan, McKeghan, Keegan and Kegan. Other possible variations might include MacKeegan, MacKeighan, MacKegan and MacKeghan.
The variations in spelling could be due to different interpretations of the original Gaelic spelling when translated into English, as well as changes that occurred over time and with migration to different regions or countries.
The prefix 'Mac' or 'Mc' usually means 'son of', hence these surnames might refer to 'son of Keegan' or a variant thereof. The name Keegan itself originates from the Gaelic name Mac Aodhagáin, which means ‘son of Aodh’, ‘Aodh’ being an old Gaelic name meaning ‘fire’.
In terms of surnames with the same origin, anything deriving from 'Mac Aodhagáin' could be considered, so possible surnames of the same origin might include Egan, Eagan and Hagan, which have been anglicised from the original Gaelic.
Keep in mind that these are educated guesses based on typical Gaelic naming conventions and practices. Each individual case could vary based on personal or family history.
Famous people with the name MacKighan
- William Mackighan: American Country music vocalist
- Dennis Mackighan: Welsh rugby player
- Annamay Mackighan: American Olympic cycling medalist
- Quinton Mackighan: Canadian professional hockey player
- Frank MacKighan: American Army Air Force pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross
- Robert MacKighan: English recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross
- Jenny MacKighan: Actress
- Clyde MacKighan: Former Democratic National Committee chairman
- Jonathan MacKighan: American IT communications and mobile networking expert
- Sarah MacKighan: British author and tv director