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McAlpin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

McAlpin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The western coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the McAlpin family. Their name is derived from the son of the blond one, or son of Alpin.

Early Origins of the McAlpin family

The surname McAlpin 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 were descended from King Kenneth MacAlpin who was murdered by the Picts near Dundee in the year 834. MacAlpin is generally considered to have been the first king to rule both Scots and Picts, and as such, was the first king of Scotland.

Further to the south, the variant Alby hailed from Alby, a parish, in the union of Aylsham, hundred of South Erpingham, E. division of Norfolk. "This place, which was anciently called Oslby, is intersected by the road from Aylsham to Cromer, and includes the hamlets of Alby Common and Alby Hill." [1]

Early History of the McAlpin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McAlpin research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1395, 1405, 1531, 1557, 1658, 1692 and 1725 are included under the topic Early McAlpin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAlpin 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. McAlpin has appeared in various documents spelled MacAlpine, MacAlpin, MacAilpein (Gaelic) and others.

Early Notables of the McAlpin family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir John MacAlpin; John MacAlpine (Latin: Maccabeus) (died 1557), a Scottish Protestant theologian; and Joseph Capen (1658-1725), a Massachusetts clergyman who during...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McAlpin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAlpin Ranking

In the United States, the name McAlpin is the 7,392^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [2]

Migration of the McAlpin family to Ireland

Some of the McAlpin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McAlpin 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 McAlpin or a variant listed above include:

McAlpin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Peter McAlpin, aged 48, who arrived in New York in 1774 [3]

McAlpin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James McAlpin, who arrived in New York in 1815 [3]
Henry McAlpin, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1818 [3]
John McAlpin, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1842 [3]
Alexander McAlpin, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1854 [3]
Alice McAlpin, aged 24, who landed in New York in 1854 [3]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McAlpin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ellen McAlpin, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Castlebar, in 1900
M. G. McAlpin, aged 30, who settled in America, in 1904
Mrs. McAlpin, who landed in America, in 1906
Flora B. McAlpin, who landed in America, in 1906
Adelheide R. McAlpin, aged 15, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McAlpin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McAlpin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Capt. Daniel McAlpin U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1777 he was Captain of McAlpin's Corps of Volunteers, he was made Major of A Corps of Older Loyalists, married to Mary having 3 children, he died in 1780 still in service [4]
Mr. Duncan McAlpin U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1793 he served in the Loyal Rangers [4]

McAlpin migration to Australia +

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

McAlpin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James McAlpin, British convict who was convicted in Barbados for life, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [5]
Henry McAlpin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Mount Stuart Elphinstone" in 1851 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name McAlpin (post 1700) +

Vic McAlpin, American songwriter, member of the Nashville songwriter's Hall of Fame
Tom McAlpin (b. 1959), American former president of Disney Cruise Line
Dave McAlpin, American politician, Democratic Party member of the Montana House of Representatives
David Hunter McAlpin (1816-1901), American industrialist and real estate owner, founder of D.H. McAlpin Tobacco Company
Edwin A. McAlpin (1848-1917), American General of the New York State Militia, president of the D.H. McAlpin Tobacco Company
Harry S. McAlpin (b. 1906), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1956 [7]
Elbert McAlpin, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1908 [7]
Edwin A. McAlpin, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 14th District, 1884; Candidate for Presidential Elector for New York, 1884; Postmaster at Sing Sing, New York, 1890-91 [7]
David H. McAlpin, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 7th District, 1870 [7]
Anne C. McAlpin, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1924 [7]
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"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)
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MOUNT STUART ELPHINSTONE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851MountStuartElphinstone.gif
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html