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The surname McGeachie is an Irish surname and a Scottish surname. In ancient times the family name in Gaelic was Mac or Mag Eachaidh (son of Eachaidh).
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Surname origins
MacGeachie, MacGeachy, MacKeachie. From Ir. Mag Eachaidh, an Ulster variant of Mag Eochadha. M'Gachie in Bordland, 1684. Neil M'Gechie in Portadow, Kilchenzie parish, 1686 (Argyll). Robert M'Keachie in Darnow 1711 (Wigtown). MacKeachie, MacEachaidh. Robert M'Keachie in Darnow, 1711 (Wigtown). In 1684 the name appears as McCeachie, McCheachie, McKeachie, McKeachy (and without Mac as Keachy, Cachie, Ceachie, Kaachie, Kachie, Kechie) (Parish).
MacGahey, the Irish name Eachaid or Eachadha is also derived from a Gaelic word for horse, and is often used interchangeably in the annals for Eochaid or Eochadha. As Eochaid became anglicized as Oghy, Eachaid became anglicised as Aghy and in Edward MacLysaght's write up of MacGahey, he says: Mac Eachaidh. The personal name Eachaidh, anglicized as Aghey, is a variant of the older Eochaidh—Oghy. McGahey is an Ulster name akin to MacCaughey.
According to Patrick Woulfe, McGahey (with its variant MacGaughy etc.) is Mag Eachaidh in Irish, this being another form of Mag Eochadha, McGahey is definitely an Ulster name. Other surnames that, according to Woulfe, stem from Each are MacGagh (mag eacaro), MacGaugh (mag eacada), MacGeagh (mag eacada).
McCaughan an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic MacEachain, son of Eachain. An Ulster surname, recorded in the Counties of Antrim, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone. Some families of Mc Caughen changed their name to MacCaughey, itself an Anglicized form of the Ulster name Mac Eachaidh, son of the Horseman or Horse Lord.
The Scots names MacGeachie and MacGeachy are also derived from Mag Eochaidh.
McGachy, McGeachy. An anglicized version of the Gaelic 'Mac Eochaidh'. A surname in both Ulster and Scotland. William McGaheye settled in York, Virginia, in 1653, and Alexander McGeachy, from Argyll, emigrated to America around 1783.
MacGeachie, McGachen a version of MacEachan, they derive from the Gaelic MacEachann - "son of Hector". traditionally from Hector, second son of Roderick, 3rd of Macdonald of Clanranald .
Roland MacGahen (del counte de Wiggeton) Wigtown signed the Ragman Rolls of 1291 & 1296 swearing allegiance to King Edward I of England.
The McGachen's of Dalquhat or Dalwhat - Alexander McQuuichin of Dalquhat was outlawed in 1528. Pont's Manuscript 1624 gives arms for McGachen of Dalquhat as Or a Dexter hand, Gules. Sir James Balfour, 1st Baronet - Lord Lyon King of Arms (1630–1658), McGahan of Dalqwhat Or, a Hand, Gules. Alexander McGeachie of Dalwhat is mentioned in 1694 kirk session records for Glencairn Dumfriesshire. According to John Corrie, "the third rivulet on the north side is Dalwhat Water where stands the dwelling place of a lineage of the name M'Gachen descendant of one M' Gachen, a private standard-bearer in the Bruce wars, and doth yet continue the name."
Heraldry
McGeachie Armigers Personal Banner. - Court of the Lord Lyon - Heraldic judge in Scotland. - 28 Oct 2008, vol. 88 folio 30.
McGeachie Armigers Scottish crest badge. - Court of the Lord Lyon - Heraldic judge in Scotland. - 28 Oct 2008, vol. 88 folio 30.
Arms = Sable, a Chevron Argent between in chief 2 Gillyflowers each of five petals, and in base a Chrysanthemum of twelve petals Vert fimbriated Or.
Crest = A Leopard Sejant Rampant proper grasping with the fore paws a weaver’s Ell measure Sable.
Motto = Peritia Et Honore.
Pennon = Argent and Sable with the Arms in the hoist and the motto in two lines counterchanged.