My 3 x Great Grandmother was a McCaughan from County Antrim. I believe their distant ancestral roots are in the west of Scotland. I know the Norse settled in those parts and on to the Isle of Man. I think the Manx version of the surname has the same origins as the Scots/Irish surname. The problem is Scots, Irish and Manx surnames have similar origins so it's difficult to determine when a name entered the island. Some of my Manx surnames may well have come to the Isle of Man via Scotland and the isles.

I don't think there was ever a campaign against the Macs some lasted longer than others. A surname like Mylchreest should have become Gilchreest if the Mac was to be dropped but instead it evolved into a unique variation.

Col