Eachann

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Eachann
GenderMasculine
Language(s)Scottish Gaelic
Origin
Language(s)Celtic
Derivationeach + donn
Meaning1. "horse" + "lord";
2. "horse" + "brown"
Other names
Cognate(s)Eachdonn
Anglicisation(s)Hector (given name), Hector (surname)
See alsoMacEachainn · Hawkins · Ó hEacháin

Eachann is a masculine given name in the Scottish Gaelic.[1] A similar and possibly related early form of the name was Eachdonn.[2] The name is composed of two elements; the first element is each, meaning "horse". The second element is donn, which has been given two different meanings. One proposed meaning is "brown";[3] another proposed meaning is "lord".[4] The early Gaelic form of the name, Eachdonn, was 'confused' with the Norse Hakon (which is etymologically unrelated).[2]

Eachann has often been Anglicised as Hector (which is also etymologically unrelated to Eachann).[3]

The Scottish Gaelic surname MacEachainn is a patronymic form of the given name (meaning "son of Eachann").[5]

People with the given name[edit]

People with the given name as part of a patronymic name[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mark, Colin (2006), The Gaelic-English Dictionary, London: Routledge, p. 714, ISBN 0-203-22259-8
  2. ^ a b "Learn about the family history of your surname". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 7 October 2010. which cited Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-508137-4. for the surname "Hector".
  3. ^ a b Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 120, 121, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1
  4. ^ Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-508137-4.
  5. ^ "Learn about the family history of your surname". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 7 October 2010. which cited Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-508137-4. for the surname "McEachin".