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ArchivesRe: King Macha 533-519 BC
in reply to a message by John Mackey Dieter
Personally I've never heard of a King Macha. I thought macha was locative and meant "plain". However it seems that several females named Macha feature in Irish mythology.
Mackey appears to be a variant of both Mackay and Mackie, surnames with the same meaning but distinct origins. Mackay belongs to Sutherland, as you state, while Mackie belongs to the south-west of Scotland and, according to G.F.Black, to Stirlingshire.
There is some evidence that the Mackays of Sutherland descended from the royal line of Scotland that preceded the line of Duncan (1034-40).
The Gaelic form of the name is MacAodha, son of Aodh, a name said to mean "fire".
Mackey appears to be a variant of both Mackay and Mackie, surnames with the same meaning but distinct origins. Mackay belongs to Sutherland, as you state, while Mackie belongs to the south-west of Scotland and, according to G.F.Black, to Stirlingshire.
There is some evidence that the Mackays of Sutherland descended from the royal line of Scotland that preceded the line of Duncan (1034-40).
The Gaelic form of the name is MacAodha, son of Aodh, a name said to mean "fire".
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The name "Armagh" derives from the Irish word Ard meaning "height" and Macha, together meaning "height (or high place) of Macha". Macha was a legendary figure described both as one of the Goddesses of Celtic mythology and sole High Queen of Ireland among the line of kings. Macha is mentioned in the Book of the Taking of Ireland, and is also said to have been responsible for the construction of the hill site of Emain Macha (now Navan Fort near Armagh City) to serve as the capital of the Ulaid kings (who give their name to Ulster), also thought to be Macha's height. Navan Fort was supposedly founded by the goddess Macha in the 5th or 7th century BC.Although called a "fort", it is considered more likely to have been a pagan ritual or ceremonial site.
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Real people not Myth they are MACKEY today, from Ireland spread out to Scotland.
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