Surname MacCague - Meaning and Origin

MacCague: What does the surname MacCague mean?

The last name MacCague is most commonly associated with Irish origins, and it appears to be most popular in the counties of Derry, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Tyrone, in Northern Ireland. It is a variation of the name MacCahan, which is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" and "Cathán," meaning Son of Cathán.

The history of the MacCague name can be traced back to the Irish clan system, which was introduced with the arrival of the Celts around 500 BC. During the twelfth century, the Gaelic-Irish MacCagues were an important part of the military forces of Ireland, fighting and defending against various invaders.

Today, the MacCague name is still associated with its Irish roots and continues to be celebrated. Those with the MacCague surname typically display an array of traditional Irish traits, such as patriotism, courage, loyalty, and a venerable respect of family and history.

Since the MacCague family is an important part of Irish heritage, it is no surprise that the name has become popular not only in Ireland, but all over the world. Whether it is the simple knowledge that you have an ancestral connection to the Emerald Isle, or the pride that comes with being a part of a long and ancient legacy, the MacCague surname is sure to bring smiles to those who carry it.

MacCague: Where does the name MacCague come from?

The last name MacCague is most common today in Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland, there are several counties where the name is especially common, including County Kerry, County Mayo, and County Galway. In Scotland, the name is most commonly found in the western Highlands and the Isle of Skye. It is also found in England, most significantly in London and the northwest.

Traditionally, the MacCagues originated from the northernmost part of County Sligo in Ireland, with some branches farther east in County Roscommon. However, with the great waves of Irish emigration during the 19th century, many MacCagues spread around the world and can now be found in areas like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Due to the common Irish and Scottish heritage of the name, there are many variations of the surname such as Macag, McCoughey, Cogghey, Goggy, MacCaffrey, and MacCaig. Similarly, there are derivatives of the various clans within the name, such as MagSassan, MagSwayne, MagAveen, and MagOghamain.

There is also a large MacCague community in parts of the United States, particularly in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. As well as this, there are smaller clusters of the name throughout the United States, such as in California, Washington, and Florida.

Overall, it is clear that the MacCague name is well-represented in many locations today worldwide, with a particular focus on countries with strong Irish and Scottish roots.

Variations of the surname MacCague

The surname MacCague has several variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants include McCaghey and McCague. Other spellings include MacCaughey, MacCaughey, MacCawy, and MacCawy.

Surnames of the same origin include MacCaw, MacCawe, MacCawy, MacKay, MacKaye, MacKeage, MacGeoch, MacGeogh, MacKeige, and MacQuigh.

The Irish and Scottish surnames MacCague and its variants are derived from the Irish and Gaelic Mac Cathmhaoil, which is composed of two elements. The first element, Cathmhaoil, is derived from the byname for a battle leader, meaning “noble” or “victorious." The second element, Mac, is a Gaelic descriptor for ‘son of.’

In Ulster, records show that MacCague was listed as “MacCauy” or “McCauy” in 1665, suggesting that MacCague is a variant spelling of these two names. The variant spellings of MacCague may be found throughout the British Isles, including Ireland, Scotland, and England.

In Scotland, most of the variants of MacCague are found in the Eastern Lowlands and North East Scotland. Furthermore, the variants MacCaughey, MacKaye and MacKeige are relatively common in these regions.

In Ireland, many of the variants of MacCague are found in County Mayo and County Donegal, where the name has become anglicized as McCaw, MacCaw, and MacCawe.

The MacCague surname has become very popular today, thanks to its multiple spellings and variants, making it one of the most commonly found Irish-Gaelic surname throughout the British Isles.

Famous people with the name MacCague

• Caleb Maccague: Professional actor, director, and producer.
• Gary MacCague: Professional hockey player and former coach of the Newcastle Vipers.
• Andrew MacCague: Canadian filmmaker and documentary director.
• Florence MacCague: Canadian writer who won the Governor General's Award for Fiction in 1984.
• MacCague Jourdan: Multi-Platinum Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer renowned for his work in various genres of music.
• T. MacCague: Former Professor of History at Trinity College in Dublin.
• Emmett MacCague: Famous Canadian ice hockey coach, former coach of the Moncton Wildcats.
• Sylvia MacCague: American author and Poet Laureate, best known for her work on environmental and wildlife conservation.
• William MacCague: Award-winning photographer and artist.
• Charlie MacCague: Pro golfer who tee'd off in the PGA Championship in 2019.
• Cara MacCague: Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter and TV judge.
• Reggie MacCague: Football and soccer coach who has led five teams to national championships.
• Robert MacCague: Irish-American politician who served in the House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1885 to 1893.
• James “Mac” MacCague: Professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1998-2005.
• Edwin MacCague: Former editor for the New York Times and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
• Conall MacCague: Irish composer, musician, and vocalist, famous for his stunning musical arrangements.
• Valerie MacCague: Award-winning author and environmental scientist.
• Jake MacCague: Automotive designer and sculptor, best known for designing the Triton GT supercar.
• Angela MacCague: Canadian singer-songwriter who rose to fame following the release of her debut single “Let Love, Win.”
• Joseph MacCague: Co-founder of the Canadian Grand Prix, a three-day motorsport event.

Other surnames

MacCagenMacCaghanMacCagheyMacCaghlin