Show ContentsMcIntee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hundreds of years ago, the Gaelic name used by the McIntee family in Ireland was Ó Fionnachta, which is derived from the words "fionn," meaning "fair," and "sneachta," meaning "snow." 1

Early Origins of the McIntee family

The surname McIntee was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, enjoying a common heritage with the O'Cahans and the O'Neills. They were descended from the Princes of Limavady in Derry, specifically Conchobhar (Connor) a younger brother of Niall Frasach, brother of the King of Ireland. Descended from Connor was Gruagan of the Grogans, Dungan, Cathan, Cathusach, Dermod, to his son Con Cionntach, who was first to assume the name of MacGinty, which anglicized is MacGinty and Ginty.

Early History of the McIntee family

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

McIntee Spelling Variations

Names from the Middle Ages demonstrate many spelling variations. This is because the recording scribe or church official often decided as to how a person's name was spelt and in what language. Research into the name McIntee revealed many variations, including Maginty, MacGinty, McGinty, Ginty, Ginity, Maginnity, O'Ginty, Genty, MacGenty and many more.

Early Notables of the McIntee family

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


United States McIntee migration to the United States +

To escape the religious and political discrimination they experienced primarily at the hands of the English, thousands of Irish left their homeland in the 19th century. These migrants typically settled in communities throughout the East Coast of North America, but also joined the wagon trains moving out to the Midwest. Ironically, when the American War of Independence began, many Irish settlers took the side of England, and at the war's conclusion moved north to Canada. These United Empire Loyalists, were granted land along the St. Lawrence River and the Niagara Peninsula. Other Irish immigrants settled in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The greatest influx of Irish immigrants, however, came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Thousands left Ireland at this time for North America and Australia. Many of those numbers, however, did not live through the long sea passage. These Irish settlers to North America were immediately put to work building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. Irish settlers made an inestimable contribution to the building of the New World. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Irish name McIntee or a variant listed above, including:

McIntee Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Oscar McIntee, aged 11, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Campania" from Liverpool, England 2
  • Kate Mc Intee, aged 38, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Etruria" from Liverpool & Queenstown 2
  • William McIntee, who arrived in New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Campania" from Queenstown & Liverpool 2
McIntee Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John McIntee, aged 43, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Huron" from Santo Domingo City 2

Australia McIntee migration to Australia +

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

McIntee Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Patrick McIntee, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Omega"
  • Ann McIntee, aged 24, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Omega"

Contemporary Notables of the name McIntee (post 1700) +

  • Edward Matthew McIntee (1906-1981), American Judge of the United States Court of Appeals
  • William J. McIntee, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1924 3
  • John McIntee, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Iowa 3rd District, 1986 3


The McIntee 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: Felis demulcata mitis
Motto Translation: A stroked cat is gentle.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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