Nigel, It's something I'm actively working on and I haven't come to a conclusion. The Kaighins most likely come from the MacEachan clan of Galloway primarily around the area of Glenluce. The area around Glenluce Bay was known as "An Duthaig MacEachain". Ann Kaighin suggests that MacEachans came over in 1098 from Galloway with the timber to build forts on the island, including Peel Castle, for Magnus Barefoot and were given a tract of land in K. German (BallaKaighin?) for their services. There is a statement in the Manx Chronicles in that year that may provide evidence: "[Magnus] compelled the men of Galloway to cut timber and bring it to the shore for construction of forts"

Ann says she has some documentation that shows the grant for the land or something along those lines.

So if they came from that clan MacEachan, and I have little reason to doubt it, then that clan's history has been cronicled back to 247 AD, when its progenitor, Eachain invaded Galloway from Ulster and established his "Duthus" there. The last chief of Clan MacEachan, John Alexander McCaughan, in a report to the Heraldry of Ireland claimed that the Manx derivitives of MacEachan, i.e. Mac Cackin, Caighin, Kaghin, etc, were members of the clan.

The following is a list of possible derivatives of MacEachain with its first documented use and source. Keep in mind this is a work in progress and no conclusions have been made.

Greg

247 Eachain Ulster and Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1100 Auchanson Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1100 McCaughin Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1100 McGeaghan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1100 McCaughan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1100 McEachain Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1143-1214 Mecachin Carrik (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1150 McKahon Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKeechan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 MacGachan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGagen Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKeuchane Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 MakGachane Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGachand Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKechan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 MacAychin Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGaichan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKeuchane Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McAchin Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGauchane Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKaghan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 Mcakeon Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGaughan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKachan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 Mccachan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGeachan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McKaychin Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McGathan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1150 McCaghan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1153-1165 MacEachain Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1153-1165 McCaughan Galloway (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1200 McGachen IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1200 Cahanson IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1200 McCaughan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1200 McCahan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1200 McKahan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1200 McKaighan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1354 de Cakan IOM (W.W. Gill, 3rd Manx Scrapbook, 1963)

1400s MacAkoen IOM (W.W. Gill, 3rd Manx Scrapbook, 1963)

1422 McCaighen IOM (Mark Anthony Mills, “The Ancient Ordinances and Statutes of the Isle of Man”, 1821)

1417 Mac Haughan IOM (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1418 McGaychin IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1418 Cackeon IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1422 Mac Caighen (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1505 Makachyn (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1505 Macachane (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1506 M’Cachin Ardmuchy (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1506 McCachin Colonsay (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1508 Makachyn IOM (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1511 MacCaghen IOM (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1513 MacCaghen IOM (W.W. Gill, 3rd Manx Scrapbook, 1963)

1528 M’Quuichin Dalquhat (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1532 McAuchin (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1540 M’Gauchane Edinburgh (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1543 M’Aychin Huntlie (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1605 M’Kouchane Kintyre (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1586 Kaighin IOM Kirk Michael parish records.

1611 Kaighin IOM (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1611 Kaighan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1614 McAchane Islay (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1630 McKeighan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1630 Cagen IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1635 Chaginge IOM (W.W. Gill, 3rd Manx Scrapbook, 1963)

1643 Caighan IOM (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1643-1745 McCaghan IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1643-1745 McCaughern IOM (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)
1650 McCahen Ireland (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1667 Kaighan IOM (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1677 Kaighin IOM, German Kirk German parish records

1692 McKukan Nether Lorn (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1696 Kaighin IOM (W.W. Gill, 3rd Manx Scrapbook, 1963)

1700 McCaughran Ireland (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1700 McGahan Ireland (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1700 Kaighan Ireland (John Alexander McCaughan, 1981)

1702 Kaighing IOM, German Kirk German parish records

1721 McEachan Erchles (George F. Black, “The surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History”, 1946)

1736 Keiggeen IOM, Rushen Rushen parish records

1745 Caighin IOM (A. W. Moore, Manx Note Book Vol 2, 1886)

1756 Kaighyn IOM, Malew Malew parish records

1786 Kaghin IOM, Malew Malew parish records

1793 Kaghen IOM, Malew Malew parish records

1806 Caighin IOM, Ramsey Ramsey parish records

1824 Kaighan IOM, Douglas Douglas, St. George parish records

1826 Kaigher IOM, German Kirk German parish records

1834 Keigin IOM, Douglas Douglas St. Mathews parish records

1844 Keign IOM, Arbory Arbory parish records

1845 Kaghan IOM, Ballaugh Ballaugh parish records

1857 Kaighein IOM, Ramsey Ramsey parish records

1872 Keighen IOM, Lezayre Lezayre parish records