Contents [hide]

McCaul History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

McCaul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
Scotland

The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the McCaul family. The root of their name is the Gaelic surname of Scottish origin, which means son of the battle chief.

Saint Gall (550?-645?), originally named Cellach or Caillech, was abbot and the apostle of the Suevi and the Alemanni, and appears to have been the son of Cethernach, an Irishman of noble lineage, of the sept of Hy-Cennsealach, his mother being, it is asserted, a queen of Hungary. 1

The MacGall variant was later derived from the Gaelic Mac goill, or Mac an ghoill, 'stranger's son,' 'Lowlander.' 2

The MacCall variant was from the Gaelic MacCathail, 'son of Cathal,' "the M'Calls of Guffokland were an old Nithsdale family. Robert M'Kawele, was Lord of Karsnelohe, c. 1370-1380." 2

Early Origins of the McCaul family

The surname McCaul was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

The Maccalls of Dumfriesshire were settled there as early as 1500, "and are said to be descended from the Macaulays. John M'Call is recorded in Cumbray, 1583 (Hunter, p. 31). Matthew McCall in Maybole, charged with reset of rebels in 1607, appears a few days later as McEall (RPC., XIV p. 507). Quintigern Makcall, bailie of Edinburgh, 1610." 2

Early History of the McCaul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCaul research. Another 215 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1629, 1684, 1686, 1688 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McCaul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCaul 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. McCaul has appeared in various documents spelled MacAll, MacColl, MacCole, MacCall, MacAul, Mccall and others.

Early Notables of the McCaul family

More information is included under the topic Early McCaul Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McCaul family to Ireland

Some of the McCaul family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCaul migration to the United States +

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 McCaul or a variant listed above:

McCaul Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John McCaul, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 3

McCaul Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James McCaul, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1774 3

McCaul Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francis McCaul, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1820 3
Joseph H McCaul, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1864 3

McCaul migration to Australia +

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

McCaul Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Patrick McCaul, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"

McCaul 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:

McCaul Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Walter McCAUL, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
James McCaul, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Lord Burleigh" in 1856
Mr. Jessie Mccaul, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Burleigh" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th August 1856 4
Mrs. Allison Mccaul, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Burleigh" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th August 1856 4
Miss Catherine Mccaul, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Burleigh" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th August 1856 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html