Blair Collection > Surnames & place-names of the Isle of Man

^uxtnames of Haafttoc Origin. 39
The name Taidhgin, 'little Tadhg's son,' being a
diminutive of Tadhg.
Keigeen may perhaps be contracted from Mac Egan,
which is itself a contraction of Mac ^dhagain.
The name ^dhagan, a diminutive of ^dh, may
be rendered 'the little fiery warrior.' (See
Kaighan.)
The name A))ACAN, i.e., ^Edhacan or ^dagan
occurs on a cross at Kirk Michael, the legend on
which Dr. Vigfusson translates : ' Mai Bricti the
Smith, son of AfACAN (^Edhagan) raised this
cross for his own soul.'
' Moelisa Roe Mac Egan, the most learned man in
Ireland, in Law and Judicature, died a.d. 1317.'*
Mageoghan, in his version of the Annals of Clon-
macnoise, gives this entry :
' Moeleissa Roe Mac Keigan, the best learned in Ireland
in the Brehon Lawe.'
The Mac Egans were hereditary Brehons and
professors of the old Irish laws. They compiled
the vellum MS. called Leabhar Breac, or ' Speckled
Book,' the most remarkable repertory of ancient
Irish ecclesiastical affairs.
Compare (Irish) Keegan.
Kegeen [1697], Keigeen [1715].
Rushen (c), Malew, Patrick (u), elsewhere (w).
The names Quiggin, and its later and more un-
common form QuAGGiN, are also probably contrac-
tions either of Mac Taidhgin or Mac ^dhagain, but
no intermediate form has been found. Mac Quig
and Mac Keag, names found in Ireland at the
present day, have a common origin.
* Four Mast., Vol. III., p. 517.