Surname McNachtin - Meaning and Origin

McNachtin: What does the surname McNachtin mean?

The last name McNachtin is an Irish surname, originating in the Ulster Province of Northern Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic language and means “son of the night”. According to Irish records, the name is found primarily in counties Fermanagh and Tyrone.

The original form of the name in Ireland was Mac Swyn rings at the beginning of the 13th century, when it first appeared in the records of Fermanagh in the year 1172. By the 16th century, the name had evolved into McSwynn and eventually to McNachtin.

The McNachtin family is thought to have originally been part of the O’Neachtan family, originating from an old Irish tribe and made up of the Guthraidhe Clan of airthiop. The family held estates with other prominent families in the barony of Leitrim, including the Bakewell family.

The McNachtin family subsequently scattered across the country, but many of the decendants continue to live in the Ulster region today. The coat of arms of the McNachtin family has been registered variantly as that of the O’Neachtan family, featuring blue and gold and the motto “Sidhe go n-athe Bawn” (“Victory to every strong battle”).

In more recent times, several members of the McNachtin family have become notables in Irish history, contributing to literature, science, and politics.

McNachtin: Where does the name McNachtin come from?

The last name McNachtin is typically associated with Irish heritage, and is predominantly found in Ireland. It is the 13,369th most common surname in the world, and is most common in Ireland followed by the United States and Canada.

McNachtin originated in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and was found mainly in the regions around Northern Ireland and Ulster. Through the 19th century, the McNachtin family emigrated to North America seeking employment opportunities and a better opportunity for their families, and so the surname spread throughout the United States and Canada.

Today, the last name McNachtin is still common throughout Ireland, as well as in the United States and Canada. In the United States, McNachtin is most frequently found in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. In Canada, it is most commonly found in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.

The McNachtin family is also quite frequently found in its original homeland, Northern Ireland, and there the last name is said to be as common as it was in pre-emigration times.

Variations of the surname McNachtin

The surname McNachtin is an Ulster-Scots variant of the Gaelic surnames Mac Neachtain and Mac Neachtan. The spelling and surnames of the same origin include MacNeachtan, MacNeachdan, MacKnachtan, MacNaphtan, MacNaphtin, MacNachtan, MacNachtin, and McNachtan.

The surname is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Niachtain". The name is said to mean "the descendant or son of the careful one". It can also be translated as “the son of the champion”.

Common spellings include MacNeachtain, MacNeachtan, MacNeacht, MacKnachtan, MacNaphtin, MacNaphtan, MacNachtan, MacNachdan, MacNachtin, and McNachtan. The spelling and pronunciation may vary in each country and region.

The McNeatchtan surname appears on records in Scotland, Ireland, and North America. The MacNeachtan surname appears in Ulster and Ireland. The MacNeachtain name appears on records in Scotland and North America. The McNachtan surname appears on records in the United States, England, Canada, and Scotland.

The cognates of the surname McNachtin include MacNaughton, MacNay, McKnight, MacNaughten, McNeightin, and Macnight. The variants of the surname include MacNighton, MacNittin, MacNuachtan, and MacNuachtin.

Other related surnames of similar origin include MacNeachy, MacNeish, and MacNeechey.

Famous people with the name McNachtin

• Thomas McNachtin, former Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development
• Alan McNachtin, a Canadian actor and writer
• Sean McNachtin, an American actor, writer, and producer
• Christina McNachtin, an American actress and fashion model
• Jack McNachtin, an American baseball player
• Meaghan McNachtin, an American football player and coach
• Alex McNachtin, a Canadian mixed martial arts fighter
• Danny McNachtin, an American hockey player
• Christina McNachtin, an American lawyer and legal analyst
• Dee McNachtin, an American artist and illustrator

Other surnames

McNachtan