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McAulay History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McAulay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland
England

The name McAulay is the product of a saga that began among the ancient Boernician tribes of Scotland. It is derived from the son of Amalghaidh, (an old Irish personal name). The distinguished name McAulay is derived from the Gaelic name MacAmhalghaidh and was generally found in Dumbartonshire. Alternatively, the name could have come from the Gaelic name MacAmhlaibh or MacAmhaidh, which means son of Amlaib and in this case, the name was originally derived from the Norse King Olafr. This latter branch was generally found in the Hebrides.

Early Origins of the McAulay family

The surname McAulay was first found in at Ardencaple, in Dumbartonshire. Ardencaple "cape of the horses," was the ancestral home of the Lairds of Ardencaple and is located on the shores of the Gare Loch, in the historical district of Lennox, county Dumbarton. They were one of the Clans of MacAlpine.

The history of the MacAulay Clan is particularly complex as there are two distinct branches, in addition to an infusion of MacAulays during the reign of Robert the Bruce. The name of Aulay, brother of the Earl of Lennox, is found on the Ragman Rolls, which confirms his pledge of allegiance to King Edward I of England. This branch entered into a bond of manrent with MacGregor of Glenstrae in 1591.

The second branch of this Clan is that of the MacAulays of the Isle of Lewis. These Clansmen claimed descent from Aula (Olaf the Black), who was a thirteenth-century king of the Isles. Their lands were traditional centered around Uig. This branch was probably related to the numerous MacAulays of Ross and Sutherland.

Finally, some members of a branch of the MacAulay Clann from Ireland were invited by Robert the Bruce to Scotland to help in his wars against the English. These last MacAulays may be ancient relatives to those of Ardincaple, Dumbartonshire. It was some while later that the MacAulays were first recognized as a Clan.

Early History of the McAulay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAulay research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1595, 1767 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McAulay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAulay Spelling Variations

Spelling rules had not yet evolved in medieval Scotland, some names dating from that era often appear many different ways. Some spelling variations of McAulay include MacAuly, MacAwley, MacAuley, MacAullay, MacAulley, MacAwlay, MacCaulay, MacCawley, MacGawley, Magawley, Cauley, Caulay, McCamley and many more.

Early Notables of the McAulay family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was the 'MacCawlis' who appear on the roll of Broken Clans in 1595. Their fortunes fell, the last of their lands of...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McAulay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McAulay family to Ireland

Some of the McAulay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAulay migration to the United States +

The Boernician-Scottish people who came to North America were often nearly penniless when they arrived, and brought very few personal effects with them. Much Scottish heritage was lost in the process, and it is only this century that highland games, Clan societies, and other patriotic Scottish organizations have helped the ancestors of Scots to rediscover their national legacy. McAulays were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

McAulay Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ann McAulay, aged 2, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774-1775 1
Kenneth McAulay, aged 17, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 1
Norman McAulay, aged 28, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 1

McAulay Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

D. McAulay, who settled in America, in 1892
Ellen McAulay, aged 33, who settled in America, in 1892
Alexander McAulay, aged 30, who landed in America, in 1894
Alfred McAulay, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Georgina McAulay, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States, in 1897

McAulay Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Edward McAulay, aged 4, who immigrated to the United States from Dundee, in 1904
Donald McAulay, aged 40, who landed in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1908
Christopher McAulay, aged 36, who landed in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1909
James McAulay, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1922
Hugh McAulay, who immigrated to America, in 1923
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McAulay migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McAulay Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Robert McAulay U.E. who settled in Kingston, Kings County, New Brunswick c. 1784 2

McAulay Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Archibald McAulay, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848
Catherine McAulay, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1848
Effie McAulay, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1848

McAulay migration to Australia +

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

McAulay Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William McAulay, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Mr. William McAulay, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Miss Susan McAulay, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 10 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 14th September 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Alexander McAulay, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1849 6
Miss. Mary McAulay, (Gordon), Scottish convict who was convicted in Ayr, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baretto Junior" on 5th April 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7

McAulay 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:

McAulay Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander McAulay, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Breadalbane" in 1858 8
Arabella McAulay, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Breadalbane" in 1858 8
Murdoch McAulay, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ellen Lewis" in 1860
Donald McAulay, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ellen Lewis" in 1860
Margaret McAulay, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ellen Lewis" in 1860
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McAulay (post 1700) +

Alex McAulay (b. 1977), American novelist
Terry McAulay, American NFL football official
Frank McAulay, American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate 22nd District, 1915-16 9
John McAulay VC, DCM (1888-1956), Scottish WWI soldier, recipient of the Victoria Cross
Barbara Ethel McAulay Donnet (1929-2020), Australian diver who competed in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games
Greg McAulay (b. 1960), Canadian World Champion (2000) curler

Historic Events for the McAulay family +

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Angas Campbell McAulay (1907-1941), Australian Band Corporal from Cronulla, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 10

The McAulay 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: Dulce Periculum
Motto Translation: Danger is sweet

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/egyptian
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth-and-henry
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849DavidMalcolm.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baretto-junior
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 9th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp