Contents [hide]

McConachie History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

McConachie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

On the Scottish west coast, the McConachie family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Robert. Known as the Clan Donnachaidh, (MacDhonnchaidh) 'son of Duncan' the family's origins are very distinguished, as the senior branch of the line were the hereditary abbots of Dunkeld, who traced their descent from Iona. In addition, Abbot Duncan of Dunkeld, the Robertson progenitor, was killed in battle in 964, as he led the warriors, bearing, a reliquary of St. Columba. His grandson, Abbot Crinan of Dunkeld, married the Kings daughter and then fathered King Duncan I of Scotland who was killed by MacBeth (of Shakespearean fame). Crinan is buried at the Isle of lona, burial place of Scotland's early Kings. 1

Early Origins of the McConachie family

The surname McConachie was first found in Atholl. King Duncan's younger son, Maelmore, sired Madadh, Earl of Atholl, and his grandson, Earl Henry, was father to Conan who held vast territories in this area. Conan of Glenerochie was the first Chief of the Robertsons and gave his name to the Clan Connchaidh or Duncan. His successor, Duncan, the 5th Chief, led the Clan in the army of King Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314 against the English. For this service, and his subsequent staunch support of the Scottish Crown, his grandson Robert of Struan was granted the lands and barony in 1451.

Early History of the McConachie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McConachie research. Another 403 words (29 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1561, 1587, 1645, 1653, 1668, 1680, 1686, 1689, 1703, 1705, 1715, 1723, 1727, 1745, 1746, 1749, 1783, 1784 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McConachie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConachie Spelling Variations

In various documents McConachie has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. Robertson, MacConachie, Maconachie, MacConaghy, MacConchie, MacConckey, MacConkey, MacDonnachie, MacDonachie, MacDunnachie, MacInroy, MacLagan, Mac Raibeirt (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McConachie family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Thomas Robertson (fl. 1520-1561), schoolmaster and dean of Durham, was born at or near Wakefield in Yorkshire early in the sixteenth century. William Robertson (d. 1686?), Scottish lexicographer, was a graduate of Edinburgh, and is probably the William Robertson who was laureated by Duncan Forester in April 1645. From 1653 to 1680...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McConachie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McConachie family to Ireland

Some of the McConachie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McConachie migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

McConachie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William McConachie, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1770 2

McConachie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Marie McConachie, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Antrin, in 1892

McConachie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss McConachie, aged 24, who settled in America from Glenlivet, in 1903
Mrs. McConachie, who landed in America, in 1903
Mary McConachie, aged 25, who landed in America from Huntly, Scotland, in 1910
Alexander McConachie, aged 21, who landed in America from Huntly, Scotland, in 1910
Annabel McConachie, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Huntly, Scotland, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McConachie migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McConachie Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John McConachie, aged 38, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
Janet McConachie, aged 35, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
John McConachie, aged 15, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
Rpbert McConachie, aged 14, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
William McConachie, aged 12, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Atlas" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McConachie (post 1700) +

Alexander McConachie (1840-1913), Scottish merchant and politician in Hong Kong, Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council (1894-1895), Chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (1896-1897)
Robert J. McConachie, English footballer who played in the Football League for The Wednesday (1892-1893)
George William Grant McConachie (1909-1965), Canadian bush pilot and businessman, CEO of Canadian Pacific Airlines (CPA)

The McConachie 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: Virtutis gloria merces
Motto Translation: Glory is the reward of valour.

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)
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)