McCorkel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of McCorkel

What does the name McCorkel mean?

The western coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the McCorkel family. Their name is derived from the Gaelic word Mac-Thorcaill which means son of Thor's cauldron, which is the Norse hero whose name refers to the cauldron of the thunder god.

Early Origins of the McCorkel family

The surname McCorkel 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 early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the McCorkel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCorkel research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1430, 1434, 1509 and 1600 are included under the topic Early McCorkel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCorkel 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. McCorkel has appeared in various documents spelled MacCorquodale, MacCorquindale, MacCorkindale, MacCorkill and many more.

Early Notables of the McCorkel family

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

McCorkel migration to the United States +

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name McCorkel or a variant listed above include:

McCorkel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander McCorkel, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1839

Contemporary Notables of the name McCorkel (post 1700) +

James McCorkel, American guitarist, known for his work with Cock Robin on his album I Don't Want to Save the World
Rev. Harry McCorkel, American news director for WRIN, (1560 AM), a radio station in Rensselaer, Indiana

The McCorkel 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: Vivat Rex
Motto Translation: Long live the king.