Kings and High-Kings (B. T. Batsford London 1973), 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 [persons eligible to be king] 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 (MacCaughey, Haughey, Hoey)." The Mac Eochadhas may also have become McGoughs/McGeoughs. Notable people with the surname include: Alex McGough (born 1995), American football player John McGough (athlete) (1876–1967), Scottish athlete James Robert McGough Titanic survivor who was a buyer with the firm of Strawbridge & Clothier at the time he boarded as a first class passenger John F. McGough, American football player and coach Mark McGough (born 1984), Australian rules footballer Peter McGough (born 1958), American artist Philip McGough, English actor Richard McGough (1892–1917), English footballer Roger McGough (born 1937), English poet References