McConaghy

This interesting surname is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Donnchaidh", meaning "son of Duncan" the found widespread in Scotland. The Clan Donnachie (Clann Donnchaidh) better known as Clan Robertson of Atholl, are so named from "Fat Duncan" (Donncha Reamhar) who lived at the time of Robert Bruce. There was an old sept of Macconochies in Bute and of seventy-five persons holding lands there in 1506, six were of this name. In addition to Clann Donnachie there are three Argyllshire families that were known as Mac Dhonnachie, who may have been originally Cambells. The name is also found in North-East Ulster, of Scottish origin, but an indigenous Irish name "Connaghty" exists in County Cavan, of which McConaghy may also be a variant. Angus M'Conchie witnessed a sasine (act of giving legal possession of property) of Cragniche to Archibald, earl of Argyll in 1493. Huchon McConzochquhy was part tenant of Kynnarde Ross in 1505. David, son of David and Mary McConaghy was baptised at Newtown, Midlothian, Scotland on March 30th 1857. Macconachy, Macconchy, McConkey include some of the modern day spellings. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gilbert Maccoignache, which was dated 1296, Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, during the reign of King John Balliol, "Ruler of Scotland", 1292 - 1296. 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.