Surname MacKahon - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKahon: What does the surname MacKahon mean?
The surname MacKahon appears to be a variant spelling or potentially a misspelling of the Irish surname McMahon. The surname McMahon is of Gaelic origin and comes from the original Irish "Mac Mathuna", where "Mac" means "son of" and "Mathuna" is derived from the word "mathghamhain", meaning "bear". Therefore, the literal translation is "son of the bear", which likely suggests a connection to strength or valor in battle. However, directly relating modern surnames to their original meanings is not always accurate, especially given the large-scale changes in culture, language, and society since these surnames were first used. In the case of the name MacKahon, there's also the possibility that it may have different origins and meaning, or none at all, based on variations in spelling and regional differences in surname development. To confirm its exact meaning and origin, it would be necessary to trace back the person's family history, migration pattern, and genealogical records. Without this information, it's impossible to give a definitive meaning to the surname MacKahon.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKahon: Where does the name MacKahon come from?
The last name MacKahon appears to have ties with Irish origin. Celtic McDonnells and MacMahons, for example, have their roots in Ireland. In Irish, Mac means "son of," so MacKahon could possibly translate to "son of Kahon." Therefore, it may be suggested that it is an anglicized form of some Gaelic surname which could not be directly translated to English. However, it is not a common or well-known surname in today's society. There is no specific region where the name is very common currently due to immigration and spread of families. There is a high chance you would find this last name in locations with high Irish descent such as the United States, UK, Canada, and of course, Ireland. Please note that this is an assumption, as there is limited historical evidence or records associated with the surname MacKahon, and it isn't widely familiar even in Ireland. It's always advisable to undergo personal genealogical research or DNA testing for precise determination of one's ancestry.
Variations of the surname MacKahon
The surname MacKahon can be spelled in several different ways, depending on the region and period of time. These include McMahon, MacMahon, M'Mahon, O'Mahon, Mahon, MacMahan, McMahan, MacMann, McMann, MacManus, Manus, Maghan, Vaughan, Vaughn, MacMathan, MacMhaolain. The "Mac" in these names typically denotes "son of," so different spellings might exist due to different original paternal names.
It is primarily of Irish origin derived from either "Mac Mathghamhna" (in Ulster) or "Ó Mathghamhna" (in County Clare, Limerick, and Cork), which means "son of the bear" and "descendant of the bear," respectively. MacKahon could also be a variant of Mac Eacháin (McEachan/McKeegan) often anglicized as McKeon in County Leitrim.
These variations also arise from the translation of the name from Gaelic to English, often changed or simplified, leading to numerous variations over time.
Surnames with similar meanings, "bear," from other languages could also be related, such as the German surname "Bernhardt" or the Danish surname "Björn." However, this would depend on individual family histories. Please note that determining the exact correlation between different surnames requires specific genealogical research.
Famous people with the name MacKahon
- Jack A. MacKahon, an American cartoonist and illustrator
- Kevin MacKahon, an actor, writer and director
- Mike MacKahon, an English musician and film director
- Brian MacKahon, an Australian/New Zealand actor
- Mark MacKahon, an American professional baseball player
- Eleanore MacKahon, an American politician
- Jack MacKahon, a former professional American football and basketball player
- Genevieve MacKahon, an American actor and comedian
- Robert MacKahon, an American screenwriter, producer and director
- Alan MacKahon, an English professional golfer