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The name surname McGettigan is the Anglicised form of the name, “Mag Eiteagain”. The name is of patronymic origin, that is, it belongs to the category of surnames derived from the first name of the father of the initial bearer. This indicates “son of Eiteagain” and is an ancient Gaelic personal name of unknown origin. This is a Tyrone surname and in medieval times was found with both the Mac and O prefix “O hEtigen”. The name today is found mainly in Co. Donegal and the usual form is McGettigan, it is believed to mean “Son of the Wounded” and to be of Norse origin, although it may be much older. Some believe it to mean “Fleet of foot” but that may be a translation from another form of the surname. The earliest reference to the name in Irish history is in The Annals of the Four Masters, where they write about Diarmid Mac Eitigen, Chief of Clan Diarmada (now Clondermot, Co. Derry). This was in 1132, which means the surname was well established even then and may be well over a thousand years old. The Mag Eiteagain`s belong to the clan of O`Neill, Prince of Tyrone, Kings of Ulster and several times Monarchs of Ireland. I hope this will help all of you have been seeking information on your family name, and its origins. - Frank McGettigan, Co. Donegal, Ireland. 21-JAN-2007 genealogy ancestry heritage Irish surname history Donegal Glasgow UK Ireland |
