Skip to main content

Updated June 9, 2019

Family name origins & meanings

  • Scottish and northern Irish : Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Chatain (Irish Gaelic Mac Giolla Chatáin), a patronymic from a personal name meaning ‘servant of (Saint) Catan’, a little-known saint who was revered on the Scottish west coast and islands.

Subscribe to Family Education

Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.

Subscribe