Eachann

Eachann
Gender Masculine
Language(s) Scottish Gaelic
Origin
Language(s) Celtic
Derivation each + donn
Meaning 1. "horse" + "lord";
2. "horse" + "brown"
Other names
Cognate(s) Eachdonn
Anglicisation(s) Hector (given name), Hector (surname)
See also MacEachainn

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 compose 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

People with the given name as part of a patronymic name

References

  1. Mark, Colin (2006), The Gaelic-English Dictionary, London: Routledge, p. 714, ISBN 0-203-22259-8
  2. 2.0 2.1 "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. 3.0 3.1 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".