McCaighey

This very rare and interesting surname is a variant of MacKeggie, which is of Scottish origin, and is thought to be from "M o' Fhecu", the reduced affectionate form of the name "Fechin of Fobhar or Fore", of uncertain origin. However, the surname could also be a variant of McCaig, which is of Irish and Scottish origin, and is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mc Thaidhg", a patronymic from the byname "Tadhg", meaning poet, philosopher; the first source is more likely though. The surname development since 1231 (see below) includes the following: Padmund Macego (1320, Levenax), Maldonyth Macego (1532, Beauly), John McAgo (1642, Scotland) and Dougall M' Kygo (1686, Argyll). The modern surname can be found as MacKeggie, MacKaggie, MacCagy, McCaig and McCaighey. The christening was recorded in Scotland of Marionie, daughter of Robert McCaggie and Janet Nicin, on May 3rd 1646 at Inveravon, Bannf, and the marriage was recorded of Latitia McKaighy and Michael Smith on November 24th 1835 at Braddan, Isle of Man. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gillemur Macegu (witness), which was dated circa 1231, The Ecclesiastical Book of Scon, Scotland, during the reign of King Alexander 11 of Scotland, 1214 - 1249. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.