The McGoughs, according to tradition, are a Milesian people, descended from Colla-da-Chrioch, the first king ofOrghilla or Oriel. The kingdom of Oriel encompassed the land from County Donegal to County Louth. Oriel is almost synonymous with Ulster. Colla-da-Chrioch, a southern conqueror of Ulster, was one of the three Collas. The identity of the folks who lived in Oriel is shrouded in mystery and disagreement among historians. Historians who give credence to their existence, generally place Colla-da-Chrioch's conquest of Ulster in 331 AD. Some disagree placing it anywhere in the succeeding 100 years. Some scholars feel that the three Collas never existed. The McCanns are said to have descended from Breasail, a grandson of Colla-da-Chrioch. There is almost unanimity in the opinion that Eochaidh is derived from the Gaelic word for horse, italic=no or each. Some doubt has been expressed, however, based on the assumption that the only proper Gaelic form of the word for horse is ech: "Keogh, for instance, is widely known. It is Mac Eochadha, that is 'Eochaidh's Son.' Eochaidh is an extremely widely used name in Old Irish texts, it is the name of several gods and mythical quasi-divine kings. But what does Eochaid mean? Some take it as equivalent to Echaid therefore 'Horseman'. Not improbable because of place of horse in ancient Celtic religion. But why -o- in Eochaid? Many words eo--'salmon,' 'point', 'pin,' 'yew' and others, but then whence -ch- in Eochaid? So, whereas there's no doubt that Keogh is Mac Eochadha, there's unresolved doubt about Eochaid." Gaelic Language Bulletin Board of July 31, 1989. Eochaidh is an ancient Irish name. The index to Keating's History of Ireland shows several pages of Eochaidhs. The Index Nominum to O'Donovan's version of the Annals of the Four Masters contains two pages of Eochaidhs. Mac Eocada is usually translated as "horseman," but sometimes "possession of horses." John O'Hart says that Eachach means "having many horses." David F. Dale, always an independent and innovative scholar, says Eochaid "derives probably from a phrase which means a 'descendant of the horse' ie Eoch-aidh." The Ancient Origins of the Scots, Part I, 5.6 Scotic Settlement and the Horse "Goddess", by David Dale. Eochaid mac Ardgar is listed as one of the Kings of Ulidia. Francis John Byrne, in his book Irish Kings and High-Kings, at page 127, uses the name "Eochaid mac Ardgail king of Ulaid," and says: "In the eleventh century family surnames became common among the royal septs in Ireland. These probably originated in a desire to distinguish the rigdamnai from remoter relatives. Thus in Ulster not merely the sons and grandsons of Eochaid mac Ardgail, but also his later descendants took the name Mac Eochada or Ua hEochada." The Mac Eochadhas may also have become McGoughs/McGeoughs. Notable people with the surname include:
