The family name of McGugan is mainly associated with the Knapdale, Gigha and Kintyre areas of Argyll in Scotland. It is a gaelic name, supposedly derived from Mac Eochagáin or Mac Eoganán, son of Eoganán which is a diminutive of Eogan (formed by adding the “án” similar to the way that y is used in English). Eogan becomes Ewan in English because the ‘g’ is silent, while in Eoganán the g is pronounced and the first ‘n’ is silent so that it is pronounced as Eugan. The anglicized version should probably be McEugan, and this is how emigrants to Canada pronounced the name in the 19th century. The problem with this spelling is that it is very similar to the gaelic name Mac Eogan which is anglicized to McEwan. Since in gaelic, the pronunciation of c and g is very similar, the g may have been used to distinguish the Mc Gugans from the Mc Ewans. In some records McGugan is spelled as McCugan.

The name Eoganán came to Knapdale and Kintyre with a migration of Scots from Ireland in the 5th and 6th centuries under Fergus, Angus and Lorn, sons of Erc. Fergus’ grandson Gabrán occupied the territory that is now Knapdale and Kintyre, while his brother Comgall occupied Cowal which is named after him. Future kings of Scotland were descendants of these two brothers. Gabrán had two sons, Eoganán and Aedán. Although Eoganán was the older brother, St. Columba chose Aedán as the king based on a dream that he had. According to historians “Kintyre from the 6th century had been the country of Eoganán son of Gabrán and his descendants.” This is where the McGugan name appears in the 1500’s, however it is impossible to determine if there is any connection.

The first appearance of the McGugan family in the history books seems to be in the early 13th century in the person of Gillascoppe Mahohegan or Gillespic mac Eochagan (Archibald McGugan). This Gillascoppe Mahohegan is alleged to have married a great-great-grand daughter of King Duncan II. Duncan II was the oldest son of Malcolm III (who succeeded McBeth) by his first wife. Malcolm’s second wife was Margaret, a member of the Saxon royal family, and she set about the anglicization of Scotland. This was not popular with the highland clans. The throne passed from Duncan II to his half brothers, and there was a struggle in the 12th and early 13th centuries by the descendants of Duncan II’s son William to get back the kingship. The last survivor of this MacWilliam family was the wife of Gillascoppe Mahohegan. In about 1221 Gillascoppe led a rebellion in Scotland to try to regain the throne for his sons (of the race of McWilliam). He failed in this attempt and again in another rebellion in about 1230. His family’s fate is not clear, however most historians believe that they were all killed. Gillascoppe was supported by Ruairi, brother of Donald, the progenitor of the MacDonald clan.

In the 14th and 15th centuries there appears to be no trace of the McGugan family, however this may be due to confusion between the McGugan and McEwan names. The family finally appears in Kintyre in 1541 as tenants of the Duke of Argyll. In 1541, John McGowgane and Duncan McGowgane (brothers) were tenants at Kilcobenach. In 1596, Gillecallum more Makgowgan occupied part of Kilcobenach and Flaardoch Makgowgan occupied Gartnagerach. In 1609 Gillecallum moir (senior) McGugan was at Kilcobenach and Gillcallum McGugan was at Gartnagarach. In 1619 Archibald McGugane was at Gartnagarach, while Gillecallum McGugane was at Kilcobenach. In 1636 Gillecallum McGougane was in Gartnagarach, Angus McGougane was in Foachage, Gillecallum ovir McGougan was at Kicobenach and Gillaspic McGougan was at Egill & Ochterane.

In 1692 records, Archibald and Donald McGugan are living in North Knapdale and by 1800 there were about 20 families of McGugans living in Knapdale. Members of these families emigrated to the United States (North Carolina) Canada, and Australia. The McGugan spelling seemed to be most common in North Knapdale, while the McGougan spelling was more common in Kintyre and Gigha. Another common spelling is McGoogan

The McGugan family is not listed as a clan. It appears to be associated with the McNeils of Gigha and Taynish however the connection is unknown. The McNeil Clan does recognize McGugans as a sept of their clan. Certainly McGugans were found on and near the McNeil estates and their family coats of arms are very similar, so there is likely to have been an ancient relationship or common ancestor of the families. McGugan is also a sept of Clan Donald, and the McGugan coat of arms is similar to that of McDonald of Sleat.

According to Thomas Robson in the British Herald, the coat of arms of the McGugan family is as follows:

M’ Gougan [Scotland] quarterly; first, ar. A lion ramp…; second, or, an arm in armour, fesseways, couped, holding a cross crosslet fitchée..; third, or, a galley, sails furled, and oars in action...; forth, vert, a fish, naiant,... -–Crest, an arm, couped at the elbow, in fesse, holding a cross crosslet fitchée.
Motto: Vincere vel mori (Victory or death)

The lion rampant is a symbol of the royal family of Scotland and the galley is a symbol of the royal family of the Hebrides. The hand holding the cross is a symbol for the “Kindred of St. Columba” which includes many of the early Scottish families such as the McDonalds and McNeils and McDougals. The swimming fish is either connected with the O’Neils of Ireland or Sommerled, ancestor of the McDonalds, McDougals, and other families.

The name can still be found on a map of Kintyre at Cruach Mhic Gougain (McGugan’s Mountain) which is opposite the island of Gigha.