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McDiarmid History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

McDiarmid History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland spawned the name McDiarmid. It is derived from the personal name Dermid which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Dhiarmaid, which means son of Dermid. "The Macdiarmids of Glenlyon claim or claimed to be the oldest if not the aboriginal race of the district. Nemeas Mactarmayt was rector of St Conganus de Duybrinis (Durinish) and afterwards vicar of Kilchoman in Islay, 1427. " 1

Early Origins of the McDiarmid family

The surname McDiarmid was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, 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 McDiarmid family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McDiarmid research. Another 336 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1502, 1504, 1529, 1533, 1613, 1638, 1659, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1692, 1698, 1700, 1706, 1743, 1779, 1790, 1799, 1801, 1808, 1811, 1817, 1819, 1828, 1832, 1850, 1852 and 1862 are included under the topic Early McDiarmid History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDiarmid Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. McDiarmid has appeared as MacDairmid, MacDermid, MacDiarmid, MacDarmid, MacDearmid, MacDermaid, MacDermont and many more.

Early Notables of the McDiarmid family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was John MacDiarmid (1779-1808), Scottish journalist and author, born in 1779 at Weem, Perthshire, where his father, James Macdiarmid (1743-1828), was parish minister. A brother, James, was an officer in the army. After receiving elementary education at home, he studied at Edinburgh and St. Andrews Universities, and for a short time was a private tutor. In 1801 he settled in London as a man of letters. There he wrote for various periodicals, and edited the 'St. James's Chronicle.' Macdiarmid, who was always in poverty, died in London of paralysis, 7 April 1808. 2John M'Diarmid...
Another 116 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McDiarmid Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McDiarmid migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McDiarmid were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

McDiarmid Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary McDiarmid, who arrived in New York, NY in 1739 3

McDiarmid migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McDiarmid Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Peter McDiarmid U.E., (McDormit, McDermaed) who settled in Didgeguash, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 4

McDiarmid Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Allan McDiarmid, aged 39, a weaver, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Janet McDiarmid, aged 25, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Donald McDiarmid, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Christian McDiarmid, aged 14, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Janet McDiarmid, aged 12, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McDiarmid migration to Australia +

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

McDiarmid Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Archibald McDiarmid, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 5
Jane McDiarmid, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 5
Charles McDiarmid, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Tomatin" in 1840 5
Mr. John McDiarmid, Scottish convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cornwall" on 28th February 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
John McDiarmid, aged 34, a shepherd, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Hercules" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McDiarmid (post 1700) +

C. J. McDiarmid, American owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team of the National League from 1927 through 1929
John McDiarmid (1911-1982), American tennis player
Matthew McDiarmid (1914-1996), Scottish literary scholar, essayist, campaigning academic and poet
Ian McDiarmid (b. 1944), Scottish actor
John Brodie McDiarmid (1913-2002), Canadian academic
Archibald "Archie" McDiarmid (1897-1957), Canadian track and field athlete
Hon. John Stewart McDiarmid (1882-1965), Canadian politician from Manitoba

The McDiarmid 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: Non immenor beneficii
Motto Translation: Grateful for kindness.

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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) TOMATIN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Tomatin.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cornwall
South Australian Register Wednesday 27 July 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HMS Hercules 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hercules1853.shtml