Keogh ~ Mac Eochadha

The Story of the Keogh Name

Keogh is an anglicized form of several Irish surnames, most notably Mac Eochadha, meaning “son of Eochaidh.” Eochaidh is one of the oldest personal names in Irish history, borne by numerous legendary and historical kings. The surname therefore reaches deep into the traditions of Gaelic Ireland. The Keoghs became particularly associated with County Wexford.

The Mac Eochadha family was established in Leinster, with important branches in Wexford and neighboring counties. The region had a complicated history following the arrival of the Anglo-Normans, and Gaelic families such as the Keoghs maintained their identities alongside Norman and English settlers.

The surname appears in a variety of forms, including Keogh, Kehoe, MacKeogh, McKeogh, and MacKeough. Some of these forms represent different regional pronunciations or separate branches of families descended from men named Eochaidh. As a result, not every Keogh family necessarily shares the same immediate ancestry.

The Keoghs remained prominent in County Wexford through the early modern period. Some branches became involved in the political and military struggles surrounding the decline of Gaelic Ireland, while others became established as landholders and members of local communities. The surname later spread throughout Ireland and was carried abroad by generations of emigrants.

Behind the familiar name Keogh lies the story of an ancient Gaelic surname connected to one of Ireland's oldest royal names. From the landscapes of Wexford and Leinster, Mac Eochadha became Keogh, carrying forward a name rooted in the legendary and historical traditions of Ireland's Gaelic kings.