Surname MacCahan - Meaning and Origin
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MacCahan: What does the surname MacCahan mean?
The surname MacCahan is of Irish origin, specifically from the Gaelic Mac Catháin, which means "son of Cathán." Cathán itself is a personal name derived from "cath," meaning "battle," and the diminutive "-án," so the whole name suggests "little battler" or "son of the little battler." This name is connected to the Northern Irish region of Derry and Tyrone where the MacCatháin clan, anglicized as MacCahan or McCahan, held significant power during ancient times. The MacCahan name is often seen in various forms due to the differing dialects and spellings over the centuries. McCahan, McCain, and McKane are some common variations of the surname. Many people with such Irish surnames can often trace their lineage back to these ancient clans and families.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCahan: Where does the name MacCahan come from?
The last name MacCahan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Eacháin", which means "son of Eachán". The name Eachán itself is composed of two elements "each" meaning "steed, horse" and a diminutive suffix "án". Thus, the surname can be interpreted as the "son of the little horseman".
The MacCahan surname, like many other Irish surnames, spread across the world due to large-scale Irish emigration especially during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. Therefore, today, it can be found in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. However, it remains most common in its place of origin, Ireland, especially in the regions of Ulster and Munster where the name first surfaced. It's also worth noting that the surname may appear in various forms due to phonetic spellings, regional dialects and Anglicization. Some variations include McCahan, McCann, MacCann, among others.
Variations of the surname MacCahan
The surname MacCahan is of Irish origin and is often associated with the northern region of the country. Various spellings and variants of the surname have emerged over the centuries due to a number of reasons such as regional accents, the influence of other languages, and simple errors in record-keeping.
Some of the most common alternate spellings include: McCahan, McCann, MacCann, MacCahan, McCahan, McKahan, MacKahan, and M’Cahan. Additionally, the surname may be prefaced with an 'O' or 'Mac', both of which indicate "son of" in Irish and Scottish tradition (e.g. O'Cahan, O'Kane, MacCahan, MacKane).
It's also worth noting that the surname has also been anglicized in various ways, often to Kane or Kean, due to the pronunciation. Other anglicizations include Keane, McCain, and Cahan.
Despite the various spellings and variants, all versions of this surname trace back to a single Irish root - "O Cathain". In ancient Irish culture, this surname denotes descendancy from Cathan, an Irish chieftain who lived around the 10th century.
Famous people with the name MacCahan
- Colin MacCahan, American film director and actor
- Anthony MacCahan, British musician
- Stephen MacCahan, American contemporary landscape painter
- Gracie MacCahan, Scottish-born Canadian actress
- James MacCahan, American actor and director
- Ryan MacCahan, American professional soccer player
- Kirsten MacCahan, Canadian-born film director and television producer
- Brian MacCahan, Irish television executive and producer
- Sean MacCahan, Irish rugby player
- Stephen MacCahan, American illustrator and artist