Surname McCaskell - Meaning and Origin

McCaskell: What does the surname McCaskell mean?

The surname McCaskell is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "MacAskill" which means "son of Askill". The name "Askill" itself is of Norse origin, and it is believed to be associated with the Old Norse personal name "Ásketill", a compound of "ás", which means god, and "ketill", which means kettle or sacrificial cauldron. The name might suggest that the ancestors bore the role of the divine sacrificial priest in Norse religious ceremonies. The McCaskell family originally lived on the Isle of Skye, an island of the Inner Hebrides, where the family held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. Variations of the name McCaskell include MacAskill, MacAskill, McCaskell, and others. Like many surnames, the spelling could have changed over centuries and may have been influenced by factors such as regional accents and illiteracy. Although the meaning of the name McCaskell gives some insight into the professions or characteristics of the family's ancestors, it doesn't necessarily define the bearers of the surname today.

McCaskell: Where does the name McCaskell come from?

McCaskell is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin, originating from the region of Galloway in Southwest Scotland. The name appears to be a variant of McCaskill or MacAskill, which are English transcriptions of the Gaelic name MacAscaill, derived from "mac" meaning "son of," and "Ascaill" a personal name.

It is also believed that McCaskell could be a variant of the surname McCaskie, derived from the Gaelic "MacAscaig". Descent can be traced from Dunscaith Castle in Skye, the ancient seat of the MacAskill Clan.

The name is not particularly common today and can be found sporadically spread across regions with Scottish and Irish diasporas, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It should be noted that due to the many variations in spelling, it might be under different yet similar surnames. If tracing ancestry, it is advisable to also search for McCaskill, MacAskill, MacCaskill, and other close variants.

Variations of the surname McCaskell

The surname McCaskell can be derived from the Gaelic surname MacAskill. It is speculated to have originated from The Hebrides, an island group off the west coast of mainland Scotland. Variations of this surname may include McAskill, MacAskill, Askew, Aiskew, MacCaskill, McCaskill, and McCaskell. Some sources suggest that these names might be anglicized versions of the original Gaelic name, which evolved over time due to differences in pronunciation and spelling traditions. The variants of the surname can be attributed to mistakes in translation, as well as changes based on geographical relocation.

The Cyrillic spelling renders the name as МакАскил.

In any case, please note that spelling variations may include more or less the same individuals, as surname spelling in early historical times was in a largely phonetic format, so it differs based on the interpretation of the scribe taking the records.

Surnames often provide interesting insights into the family's history, geography, profession, and characteristics of ancestors. It is thus advisable to trace precise ancestral lines to verify the relationship between variations of this surname.

Famous people with the name McCaskell

• Mike McCaskell: Famous Canadian tennis player and writer.
• Seana McCaskell: Professor at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
• Emma McCaskell: Award-winning Canadian contemporary artist and filmmaker.
• Andrew McCaskell: Former professional ice hockey player.
• Andranik McCaskell: Linguist and professor of English and linguistics at the University of Regina, Canada.
• Gordon McCaskell: Award-winning Canadian director, writer, and television producer.
• Colin McCaskell: Canadian television and film actor and director.
• Morna McCaskell : Canadian artist, sculptor, and jewelry designer.
• Ryan McCaskell: Soccer player from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• Sophie McCaskell: Canadian television and film actress.

Other surnames

McCaskey