Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 3, 2026

Eachann

Eachann is a masculine given name in Scottish Gaelic. A similar and possibly related early form of the name was Eachdonn. 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"; another proposed meaning is "lord". The early Gaelic form of the name, Eachdonn, was 'confused' with the Norse Hakon.

Last revised
Jul 3, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
299 w
Citations
7
Source
Eachann
GenderMasculine
LanguageScottish Gaelic
Origin
LanguageCeltic
Derivationeach + donn
Meaning1. "horse" + "lord";
2. "horse" + "brown"
Other names
CognateEachdonn
AnglicisationsHector (given name), Hector (surname)
See alsoMacEachainn · Hawkins · Ó hEacháin

Eachann is a masculine given name in 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

People with the given name as part of a patronymic name

References

References

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