Surname McKeegan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKeegan: What does the surname McKeegan mean?
The surname McKeegan is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Eoghagain, which means "son of Eoghan." The personal name Eoghan means "born of the yew tree." The yew tree holds a special significance in several cultures and religions for its durability and its evergreen nature, often symbolizing eternal life, resilience, and protection.
Typically in Irish nomenclature, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" denotes "son of," which implies that an individual with the McKeegan surname is implied to be a descendant of a person named Eoghan. As with many surnames, variations exist and McKeegan's spelling may have changed over centuries due to factors like regional dialects, emigration, and anglicization.
It's worth noting that Irish family names can impart key information about a family's lineage, and often have ties to rich histories and significant stories. However, it's important to bear in mind that many such family names also have multiple potential meanings and origins.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKeegan: Where does the name McKeegan come from?
The surname McKeegan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac Aodhagáin, meaning "son of Aodhagán". Aodhagán is a diminutive of the personal name Aodh, which means "fire" and is also the name of an ancient Celtic god. The family originated from County Clare and County Galway in Ireland.
As with many other Irish names, the McKeegan surname can also be spelled in multiple ways, including MacEgan, Egan, Keegan, MacKeegan, Kegan, etc. This is due to the Anglicization process when Gaelic names were translated to English.
Today, the McKeegan surname is common in areas where Irish diaspora settled. Therefore, people with the surname McKeegan are primarily found in Ireland, the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. In Ireland, it is still especially prevalent in its original founding regions of County Clare and County Galway. Despite its dispersion, the overall frequency of the McKeegan surname is quite rare compared to other Irish surnames.
Variations of the surname McKeegan
The surname McKeegan is of Gaelic origin and is derived from the Irish name "Mac Aodhagáin." Other variants of this surname include Keegan, Egan, MacKeegan and MacEgan, all of which stem from the same Irish root.
The prefix "Mac" or "Mc", meaning 'son of,' is often interchangeable in many Irish surnames, and so you will often see both McKeegan and MacKeegan used. The surname can also be found without this prefix, as simply "Keegan" or "Egan".
The surname Keegan is particularly common, and has been anglicized from the original Gaelic "Mac Aodhagáin" over time. Similarly, Egan is another common variation, also anglicized.
There's also Meegan which is a variant popular in County Monaghan, Ireland. This surnames such as Hegan, Eagan, and Eagen are all closely related and feature variations in spelling but essentially come from the same Irish ancestry.
Occasionally, you may also see Keegan spelled as Kegan, Keagan, or Keegen due to regional differences or personal preferences.
These surnames have been variously spelled over centuries and evolved over time, influenced by factors such as geographic regions, local dialects, and individual family preferences.
Please note, the exact spelling and variant of a surname can often be tied to individual family histories and preferences, so these are not the only possible variations of the surname McKeegan.
Famous people with the name McKeegan
- Chris McKeegan: An accomplished saxophonist from Ireland, best known for his involvement with the folk music band The Young Folk.
- Mike McKeegan: The bass guitarist of the Northern Irish alternative metal band Therapy? He joined the band in 1990 and has been a fundamental part of their success.
- John McKeegan: An American law professional who served as the city attorney for Manhattan Beach, California.
- Frances McKeegan: An American animator and animation director, known for her work on popular children's cartoons like Ben 10 and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
- Trudi McKeegan: An Australian Paralympic swimmer who won multiple gold medals at the World Championships and Paralympic Games.
- Merlin McKeegan: A professional lacrosse player who played for the Boston Cannons in Major League Lacrosse. Please note that this is not exhaustive and the relative 'fame' of these individuals may vary according to personal perspectives. Besides, the term "famous" is subjective and can be difficult to measure.