Kaighin Family Genealogy

From the distant corners of the world, the Manx people have proudly retained their connections to the past. And so it is with us Kaighins, "Manannan's Horsemen." We are a far-flung bunch with a rich and colorful history and common origin.

The surname Kaighin and its derivatives were considered by Manx antiquarian and etymologist A. W. Moore to be of aboriginal origin. However, new research suggests that the first Kaighin family may have come to the Isle of Man with Robert the Bruce during his invasion in 1313. The quarterland farm now known as Ballakaighin in Kirk German is thought to have been granted to these Scottish settlers during this period. The earliest of our ancestors to show up in the record was one Finlo McCaighen who had the ill-fortune of being hanged, drawn and quartered for his part in an insurrection at Kirk Michael against the Governor of Man in 1422.

In the Isle of Man, we were farmers, laborers, fisherman and carpenters. In many cases, we were forced by economic hardship to seek a better life elsewhere. So, we set off to America, to Canada, to Australia, to wherever prosperity beckoned. We have since fought and died in wars, administered our laws and governments, prospered in business, ministered our faith and cultivated our lands. There are now approximately 600 of us who still retain the surname Kaighin, Kaighen, Kaighan, Keighin or Kaighn. Whatever our lot and wherever we live, whether our Kaighin ancestors stayed on the Isle of Man or went to distant lands, we all seek a connection to our past, an understanding of our Manx heritage and our shared Kaighin family history.

Genealogical research, augmented by Y-DNA testing proves that all Kaighins today can trace their paternal ancestry back to Gilchrist McCaghen who was born about 1511 and was the tenant landholder of Ballakaighin in Kirk German, Isle of Man. His father Richard and grandfather John, who was born about 1439, are together shown as tenant landholders of Ballakaighin in the Libri Assedationis (rent rolls), in about 1490.

While I am compiling data for this research, this website will serve as a repository for that data. This will likely take several more years to compile. It is my plan to provide a comprehensive, detailed study of the Kaighin family from as early as records are available up to the present day. I cannot do this alone, however. If you are a Kaighin, I need your help. Please contact me if you can contribute any information about your branch so I can add it to my research. I am interested in collecting pictures, anecdotes, official records or any research you or someone in your branch of Kaighins has already done.

Also, please send a link to this page to any Kaighin you know. In the meantime, please have a look around. If you would like to comment, make a correction, or just say hello, please email me. I would love to know your story.

Greg Kaighin

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Email the editor at kaighin@iname.com