Show ContentsMcArtney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The saga of the McArtney family name begins among the people of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The McArtney name is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Cartaine, which is a variant of Mac Artain. This means son of Artan and is a diminutive of the old personal name Art.

Early Origins of the McArtney family

The surname McArtney was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the McArtney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McArtney research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1630, 1651, 1660, 1672, 1690, 1692, 1703, 1713, 1714, 1724, 1727, 1730, 1737, 1757, 1760, 1770, 1792, 1793, 1797 and 1806 are included under the topic Early McArtney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McArtney Spelling Variations

Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. McArtney has appeared MacArtney, MacCartney and others.

Early Notables of the McArtney family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McArtney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McArtney family to Ireland

Some of the McArtney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 138 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia McArtney migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McArtney Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James McArtney, British Convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 [1]

New Zealand McArtney migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McArtney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John McARTNEY, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
  • John McArtney, aged 39, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
  • Ann McArtney, aged 40, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
  • Barbara McArtney, aged 20, a dressmaker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
  • Jane McArtney, aged 18, a laundry maid, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "New Zealand" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McArtney (post 1700) +

  • David Ewan McArtney (1950-2013), New Zealand musician and songwriter


The McArtney Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Stimulat sed ornat
Motto Translation: It stimulates, but it adorns.


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835


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