Surname MacCaish - Meaning and Origin
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MacCaish: What does the surname MacCaish mean?
The surname MacCaish is of Scottish origin and is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name "Cathasaigh" or "Cathasach". This Gaelic name means "vigilant" or "watchful", suggesting that the ancestors associated with this name were watchful or vigilant individuals. It's possible an ancestor was therefore recognized for their alert demeanor or due to such a profession requiring vigilance. The prefix "Mac" means "son of", thus MacCaish can be interpreted as "son of the vigilant one". Over time, the spelling of such names has changed producing various forms including MacCash, McCash, and even anglicized to forms such as Cash. Exact history and lineage specific to the name would need to be traced through genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisMacCaish: Where does the name MacCaish come from?
The last name MacCaish is most commonly found today among people of Scottish ancestry. This is because the name originated in Scotland, with the first use of MacCaish (or MacCaishe) recorded as early as 1420. Over the centuries, the name has continued to be popular among Scots, with the spelling occasionally changing throughout history.
The surname is primarily associated with people of the Scottish Highlands, with both families and settlements bearing the MacCaish name in the north of the country. The majority of those bearing the name live in Scotland, particularly in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Lochaber, and Ross and Cromarty.
As with many Scottish surnames, MacCaish spread outside of Scotland in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many families emigrated from Scotland, settling in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, taking the name with them. The surname is also relatively common in Northern Ireland, particularly around the city of Belfast.
Today, Maccaish is known and used around the world. It is still most associated with Scotland, although people bearing the name can be found in many different countries. As a result of its global spread, Maccaish is an uncommon but widely used Scottish surname.
Variations of the surname MacCaish
The MacCaish surname has several different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The name’s original Gaelic spelling was Mac an Eas, meaning ‘Son of the waterfall.’ Other variants of this name include McCaish, McCaigue, Macanese, McAnish, MacEachern, MacEachen, MacKechnie, MacKechnell, MacKechan, MacKeich, MacKeighan, MacKeighan, MacKeown, MacKneish, and MacKnish.
All of these variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin stem from the family’s home in the Isle of Skye, Scotland, where they were located for generations. The family’s prominence in the area is seen in the abundance of place and geographical names with the MacCaish stamp on them, such as McCaish Point on the island of Muston and McCaish Cove in Skye.
In the United States, particularly in New England, there is a distinct Scottish-American culture which has carried over the spellings and surnames of the same origin, modifying them slightly to fit the English language. In the U.S., most surnames trace back to English, Irish, or Scottish roots and the MacCaish surname is no exception. In the United States, the name has been Americanized to spellings like Mkechne, MaKeighne, McKean, McKeigan, McKeighan, McKeown, McKneish, and MacKnish.
No matter what spelling or variant is used, the MacCaish family remains strong and proud of their Scottish roots.
Famous people with the name MacCaish
- Jeannie MacCaish: Scottish mathematician and statistician who works in the areas of physical sciences.
- Angus MacCaish: Scottish artist known for his paintings which focus on traditional and contemporary land and sea landscapes.
- David MacCaish: Scottish businessman and managing director of MacCaish & Alys, a corporate finance consultancy.
- Joanne MacCaish: Scottish businesswoman and entrepreneur who specialises in property development and asset management.
- Tom MacCaish: Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, as well as the frontman of the band "The Stuart Streeters".
- Laura MacCaish: Scottish television presenter and media personality, who has presented a range of television programmes including sixty-minute celebrity interviews on BBC Scotland's "Sunday Night Live".
- Alex MacCaish: Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
- Mark MacCaish: Scottish politician and former Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Isle of Bute constituency.
- Alice MacCaish: British writer, lecturer, and researcher in economics and environmental issues.
- Les MacCaish: Scottish sculptor and painter, known for his intricate works made in bronze, wood, and stone.