Contents [hide]

McCoy History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

McCoy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland-Alt
Ireland
Scotland

In ancient Scotland, the ancestors of the McCoy family were part of a tribe called the Picts. The name McCoy is derived from the personal name Aodh, a cognate of Hugh. The Gaelic form of the name is usually Mac Aoidh and in Inverness, the Gaelic form of the name McCoy is Mac Ai.

"Nothing certain is known of the origin of the northern Mackays beyond the fact that they were early connected with Moray, and may have been a part of the ancient Clann Morgunn. The Inverness-shire Mackays are usually called in Gaelic Mac Ai, that is, MacDhai, or Davidson; they formed a branch of Clan Chattan." 1

Early Origins of the McCoy family

The surname McCoy was first found in Sutherland (Gaelic: Cataibh), a former county in northern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Highland, where early records show that Gilcrest M'Ay, forefather of the MacKay family of Ugadale, made a payment to the constable of Tarbert in 1326. It is claimed that the Clan is descended from the royal house of MacEth.

Early History of the McCoy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McCoy research. Another 299 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1329, 1408, 1411, 1429, 1506, 1575, 1640, 1689, 1692, 1726, 1873, 1890 and 1940 are included under the topic Early McCoy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCoy Spelling Variations

The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. McCoy has been spelled MacKay, MacCay, MacQuey, MacQuoid, MacKaw, MacKy, MacKye, MacCoy, McCoy and many more.

Early Notables of the McCoy family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Hugh Mackay (c. 1640-1692), Scottish general, Major-General Commanding in Chief in Scotland in 1689, killed at the Battle of Steinkeerke; and...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McCoy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCoy Ranking

In the United States, the name McCoy is the 218^th most popular surname with an estimated 119,376 people with that name. 2

Migration of the McCoy family to Ireland

Some of the McCoy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 133 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McCoy migration to the United States +

This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name McCoy:

McCoy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Donald McCoy, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 3
John McCoy, who landed in South Carolina in 1716 3
Paul McCoy, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 3
Denis McCoy and his wife Catharine, who were colonists in Amelia county, Virginia in 1719
Cormack McCoy, who arrived in New York in 1738 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCoy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Daniel McCoy, who landed in Ohio in 1803 3
Bryan McCoy, aged 32, who landed in New York in 1812 3
Dennis McCoy, aged 34, who landed in New York in 1812 3
Neil McCoy, aged 32, who arrived in New York in 1812 3
Patrick McCoy, aged 16, who landed in Buffalo, NY in 1827 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCoy migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McCoy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas McCoy, who arrived in Quebec in 1838
Samuel McCoy, who arrived in Canada in 1839
Miss Ellen McCoy, aged 13 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Orlando" departing from the port of Newry, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
Mr. James McCoy, aged 25 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Broom" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 20th August 1847 4
M. McCoy, aged 1 month who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Orlando" departing from the port of Newry, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McCoy migration to Australia +

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

McCoy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William McCoy, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Dominic Mccoy, (Boyce), (b. 1812), aged 19, Irish labourer who was convicted in Londonderry, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 16th August 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1834 in the Norfolk Island Uprising 6
Mr. Alexander McCoy, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 7

McCoy 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:

McCoy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary A. McCoy, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jessie Osborne" in 1867
Thomas McCoy, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872
Ann McCoy, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872
George McCoy, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bebington" in 1872
Anne McCoy, aged 26, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Dilharree" in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McCoy (post 1700) +

Randolph "Randall" or "Ole Ran'l" McCoy (1825-1914), American patriarch of the McCoy Clan involved in the infamous American Hatfield–McCoy feud that lasted over 35 years
Elijah J. McCoy (1844-1929), Canadian-born inventor and engineer of African American descent who was notable for his 57 US patents, most having to do with the lubrication of steam engines; his oil-drip cup invention patented in 1872 may be the origin of the term "the Real McCoy" referring to his superior design for lubrication in locomotives
John Richard McCoy (1943-2023), American politician, Member of the Washington House of Representatives (2003-2013)
James Mark McCoy (1930-2022), American sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, serving from 1979 to 1981
Thomas James "Jake" McCoy (1942-2021), American ice hockey defenseman and Olympian
David McCoy (1915-2020), American skier and businessman who founded the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in 1942
William J. McCoy (1942-2019), American farmer and Democratic politician from Rienzi, Mississippi, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives (2004-2012)
Michael Charles "Mike" McCoy (1953-2016), American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers (1976-1983)
Matt McCoy (b. 1958), American actor
Horace McCoy (1897-1955), American writer, best known for his They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1935) which was later made into a movie 14 years after his death
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McCoy family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. R L McCoy (d. 1914), British Assistant Pantryman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 8
Mr. John William McCoy, British Seaman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 8

HMS Repulse

Mr. Thomas McCoy, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9
Mr. Patrick L Mccoy, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9

RMS Titanic

Miss Catherine Agnes McCoy, aged 29, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrickatane, Tyrone who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 10
Miss Alice McCoy, aged 26, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrickatane, Tyrone who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 10
Mr. Bernard McCoy, aged 24, Irish Third Class passenger from Carrickatane, Tyrone who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived in the sinking in life boat 16 10

The McCoy 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: Manu forti
Motto Translation: With a strong hand.

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 43)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html