The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Kissack family. The root of their name is the personal nameIsaac. The Gaelic forms of the name are Mac Isaac or Mac Iosaig, both of which mean son of Isaac.1
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Early Origins of the Kissack family
The surname Kissack was first found in Inverness, where one of the first records of the family was in 1476 when "the lands of Ardere in the barony of Clastray were resigned by Mariot, daughter of Molmoria M'Kesek." 1
Spelling variations for the family are quite varied: Mackessack, Mackissack, Mackissock, Mackissek, Makesaig (1592), Makkessake (1591), McKisack (1684) and many more.
In 1496, Donald Makessaig was recorded at Kilmun and he is probably the Donald McEsayg recorded in 1511. "John M'Intheir was convicted in 1623 for letting M'Keissik's 'bairnis the for hunger' in Breadalbane (BRT., p. 379 -there was probably a famine). Marion MacKissock was resident in the parish of Boyne, 1684, Elspet M'Kissick in Relliclone, parish of Madertie, 1658 (Dunkeld)." 1
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Early History of the Kissack family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kissack research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1685 and 1871 are included under the topic Early Kissack History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Kissack Spelling Variations
Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Kissack has appeared in various documents spelled MacIsaac, MacIsaack, Kissock and others.
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Early Notables of the Kissack family
More information is included under the topic Early Kissack Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Kissack family
Ancestors of many of the Dalriadan families who crossed the Atlantic still live along the east coast of the United States and Canada. Some Scottish settlers arrived in Canada during the American War of Independence as United Empire Loyalists, while others stayed south to fight for a new nation. The descendants of Scottish settlers in both countries began to rediscover their heritage in the 19th and 20th centuries through Clan societies and highland games. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kissack or a variant listed above: Murdoch McIsaac who settled in New England in 1685; Malcolm MacIsaac settled in New York in 1775. In Newfoundland Dougal MacIsaac settled in Sandy Point in 1870.
Scotland
