Surname Geogh - Meaning and Origin

Geogh: What does the surname Geogh mean?

The last name Geogh is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Géibheannigh, the ‘O’ prefix meaning “descendant of” and the root name being Géibheannigh. This is hypothesized to have derived from the Old Irish name Gébhin, which related to one or more Gaelic clans. The associated territory of the Indian Géibheannighs was historically located in central Munster in the area around Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, and a small area of County Clare.

The name Geogh is quite rare in Ireland, but is reportedly quite common in America. It is a fairly new name in America and arrived after the potato famine in the 1800s. Many of those emigrating from Ireland to America during this time changed their names to make them more pronounceable or adopt a more English form, so the name Geogh saw a surge of use.

The name Geogh most likely has a Celtic background, and could have begun as a clan name or surname of a specific family many centuries ago. The meaning of a name beginning with O or Mac or Mc is typically “son of” or “descendant of” a person, who might have been a chieftain or another influential figure in the past. As different Irish clans claimed control of different territories, other families might have adopted their names for identification.

Today, it’s difficult to trace the origins or early meaning of the name Geogh as records are not always easy to come by, but it remains an intriguing name to explore.

Geogh: Where does the name Geogh come from?

The last name Geogh is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland today. It is believed to have originated in the Scottish/Irish region known as Ulster, with some variations of the name originating from the Gaelic Mac Eachaidh, meaning “son of Eachaidh.”

The use of the current spelling, Geogh, can typically be found in both English and Irish records, mostly dating from the early 19th century. It can still be found throughout Ireland to this day, although it is most generally concentrated in the Northeastern region of the country. In the UK, Geogh may also be found in a few counties in the West Midlands and Northwest of England.

The Geogh family currently has branches located in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada, and other countries around the globe. As the origin of the family name is from the British Isles, it is unsurprising that its members are widely dispersed throughout the English-speaking world.

Though not as popularly used as it once was, the Geogh surname can still be seen on birth certificates, school rosters, and family trees. It has a long and rich heritage, and it is likely to live on for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Geogh

The surname Geogh has various spellings which depend on the region and country from which it originates. Some of the related surnames include:

- Gaugh

- Gauge

- Gegh

- Gaugh

- Geoghe

- Geegh

- Gaigh

- Geoghegan

- Gaegh

Most likely, the surname Geogh is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name MagEochagain, which is derived from the personal name Eochaidh (meaning “horse lord”). It is also found in Scotland, where it was derived from the Old Norse personal name Gíki.

The Welsh version of the name is Gough. In Northern Ireland, it is spelled Geegh. Variants such as Gaugh, Gauge, Gaigh, and Gaegh can also be found. This surname is also found with a variety of other spellings that were also derived from the same ancient Gaelic roots.

In England, related surnames include Geoghegan, Geoghe, Gaigh and Gaugh. It is possible for the surname Geogh to emerge from other spellings; for example, an Irish Gaegh might be anglicised as a Geogh in England.

The Geoghegan spelling is a variant of the original MacGeoghegan, which is a well-known sept of the Ui Maine in County Galway. It is thought that this is also a variant of the MagEochagain identification.

Variations of the Geogh surname can be found in many other locations around the world. It is particularly common in the United States where most of the surnames are derived either from the Irish or Scottish spellings.

Famous people with the name Geogh

• Antonio Geoghegan: pro boxer
• Paul Geoghegan: Irish footballer
• James Geogh: English cricketer
• Caroline Geoghegan: British politician
• Thomas Geogh: American artist
• Paul Geoghegan: Northern Irish doctor
• Joe Geoghegan: English cellist
• Richard Geoghegan: English sculptor
• Edward Geoghegan: British military officer
• Stephen Geoghegan: English-born American architect
• Charles Geoghegan: English x-ray crystallographer
• Sharon Geoghegan: American political analyst and writer
• Jon Geoghegan: English author and broadcaster
• John Geoghegan: American physician and astronaut
• Giles Geoghegan: Australian poet and visual artist
• Teresa Geoghegan: American poet and author
• Marcus Geoghegan: British barrister and judge
• Christopher Geoghegan: Irish-born Canadian lawyer

Other surnames

GeoghanGeoghegan