Surname MacKeague - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
MacKeague: What does the surname MacKeague mean?
The last name MacKeague is of Scottish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic name MacGeadhagain, from the personal name Geadheadh, a Gaelic form of the medieval English given name Godfrey, which means “God’s peace”. The name belonged to a branch of the Clan MacMillan in Argyll, and records of the surname are found in various Scottish documents from the late 16th and early 17th century.
The surname is found mainly in the Hebridean region of Scotland, where it is most common in the Outer Hebrides. There, MacKeague is historically associated with the north and east coasts of Lewis Island, where prominent persons of the name settled. The 1901 census recorded that the highest concentration of MacKeague families were living in the district of Devils Glen, close to the village of Tolsta. Other bearers of the name are also found scattered across Scotland, including in Ayrshire and Edinburgh.
The name MacKeague is also very uncommon in Ireland, where it is thought to be likely a variant of MacGeady, which is a form of the surname McGee, meaning “son of Aodh”. This Sept of McGee is documented in County Donegal and County Tyrone, and it is likely that the surname MacKeague originated from these regions.
Order DNA origin analysisMacKeague: Where does the name MacKeague come from?
The MacKeague surname is quite common in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England today. It is also quite common in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand where people of Scots-Irish heritage have settled. The name is of Scottish origin and derives from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, meaning son of Aoidh. Aoidh is a personal name for a male warrior, and in early days was common among the Scots-Irish people.
In Scotland, the MacKeagues are believed to be mostly associated with Ayrshire and Fife. It is likely the name can be traced back to Clan MacKay, although the historical relationship between the two is not well documented. Clansmen eventually settled in the north of England, and hence its presence there. Records show that there were MacKeagues living in Lancashire in the 16th century, and it is probably from here that it spread to Ireland.
In the United States the surname appears in records from the 1700s. Immigrants were among the Protestant settlers from Northern Ireland and Scotland who arrived in Pennsylvania and other parts of the North-East. The name is also present in Texas from the 1800s onward. Later waves of Scottish and Irish immigrants were also responsible for bringing the name to Canada and Australia.
Today, the MacKeague surname is most commonly found in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and the United States. However, with the mobility of people in recent years it is also found in other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname MacKeague
MacKeague is a surname of Irish origin, and there are quite a few variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common ones are MacKeague with an ‘e’, MacKeugh with an ‘u’, and MacKague without an ‘e’. MacKeague can also be spelled as MacGeague, MacKeigh, MacKague and MacKeeg. Other variations could be the double- ‘e’ Keague, Markeague, etc.
The related surnames are Mackay, Magee, MacGee, MacGhee, MacKee, etc. There are also similar names such as McKeegan, McKilligan, Magilligan, and Killeen.
Lastly, there are some common mis-spellings of MacKeague, such as MacKeown, MacVague, McKague, and MacKanue. These spellings may also be confused with another Irish name, McKeown.
In conclusion, there are many variant spellings, surnames and mis-spellings of MacKeague. All of these variants are related to the original Irish surname.
Famous people with the name MacKeague
- Neil MacKeague: Neil MacKeague is a famous actor known for his roles in films such as The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Avengers: Endgame.
- Shannon MacKeague: Shannon MacKeague is a former professional racing driver and is now an auto sports journalist and commentator.
- David MacKeague: Father David MacKeague is a Catholic priest who served as an organizer of the New Orleans Saints pre-game mass from 1994-2010.
- Matilda MacKeague: Matilda MacKeague is a mostly self-taught artist whose works focus mainly on abstract paintings and sculptures.
- John MacKeague: John MacKeague is a college professor and singer who has released several albums.
- Brian MacKeague: Brian MacKeague is a Canadian chef known for his cooking show, The Chef's Table, where he brought his passion for food to viewers.
- Matthew MacKeague: Matthew MacKeague is a former professional rugby league player in Australia who now works as a coach.
- Anne MacKeague: Anne MacKeague is a newspaper columnist and author known for her humorous writings about life.
- Catherine MacKeague: Catherine MacKeague is a Broadway actress who has appeared in Broadway musicals such as Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar.
- Roger MacKeague: Roger MacKeague is a Scottish comedian who is most well known for his stand up routine on the British television show 'Mock the Week'.